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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. cap — of ice
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bulb — for light
  5. club — a group
  6. season — in sport
  7. cap — a lid
  8. club — for dancing
  9. can — a tin
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. pop — music
  12. pop — soda
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. cue — a hint
  15. club — for golf
  16. cue — for pool
  17. pop — to visit
  18. cue — a signal
  19. mark — a grade
  20. season — of the year
  21. can — a tin
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cap — a hat
  24. can — to be able to

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