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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. bulb — for light
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. fork — in a road
  9. suit — to fit
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. stand — to bear
  12. wax — to grow
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. suit — clothes
  15. suit — in cards
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. foot — a measure
  21. perch — the fish
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. fork — a garden tool

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