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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. last — to go on
  5. suit — in cards
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. suit — clothes
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. land — ground
  10. land — a country
  11. rash — a series
  12. last — finally
  13. last — final
  14. charge — electricity
  15. rash — hasty
  16. land — to come down
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — in control
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bore — to drill
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. suit — to fit
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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