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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 116 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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bulb — for light
  6. track — to keep track
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. rash — a series
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bound — certain
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. bound — tied together
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. chip — for betting
  20. suit — clothes
  21. suit — to fit
  22. track — a song
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. track — a path

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