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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. swing — music
  3. squash — the sport
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. cap — a lid
  6. spring — a coil
  7. swing — in golf
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. swing — to play on
  10. spring — of water
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. squash — to crush
  13. suit — to fit
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. suit — clothes
  18. spring — the season
  19. cap — of ice
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. cap — a hat

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