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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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. suit — to fit
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. drill — the tool
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. rash — hasty
  10. drill — army training
  11. drill — a practice
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. bat — the animal
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bulb — for light
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. suit — clothes
  23. rash — a series
  24. suit — in cards

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