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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. can — a tin
  3. bulb — for light
  4. pop — to visit
  5. pop — soda
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. board — a committee
  9. row — a line
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — all right
  14. board — to get on
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. row — to paddle
  18. snap — to click
  19. date — the fruit
  20. pop — music
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. can — to be able to
  24. can — a tin

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