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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. sharp — clever
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. rock — music
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rock — a stone
  12. saw — the tool
  13. wax — to grow
  14. stock — goods
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stock — shares
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bulb — for light
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. bulb — for light

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