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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. bulb — for light
  3. suit — in cards
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. swing — to play on
  7. current — electric
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. season — in sport
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. saw — the tool
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — of the year
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. swing — in golf
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. current — happening now
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. suit — to fit
  23. current — of water
  24. suit — clothes

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