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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. can — to be able to
  3. field — farmland
  4. suit — to fit
  5. bank — of a river
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. snap — to click
  8. bank — for money
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. hand — help
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. can — a tin
  13. bank — for money
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — for light
  20. field — for sport
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hand — in cards
  23. suit — clothes
  24. field — a subject

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