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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. spell — a short time
  3. current — of water
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. squash — the sport
  6. cap — of ice
  7. rush — hurry
  8. cap — a hat
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. current — electric
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. spell — letters
  16. cap — a lid
  17. spell — magic
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bulb — for light
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. current — happening now
  23. bulb — for light
  24. wave — with your hand

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