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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 120 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. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. spring — the season
  3. suit — clothes
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. staff — employees
  6. spring — a coil
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. suit — in cards
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. staff — employees
  14. march — the month
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. march — music
  17. spring — of water
  18. can — a tin
  19. staff — a stick
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. march — the month
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. rush — hurry
  24. mouse — for a computer

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