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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. club — a group
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. mine — for digging
  7. bulb — for light
  8. row — to paddle
  9. row — a line
  10. chip — to eat
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. suit — clothes
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. mark — a trace
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. club — for dancing
  18. chip — for betting
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. club — for golf
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mark — a grade

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com