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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. can — to be able to
  3. can — a tin
  4. bulb — for light
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. net — for catching
  7. club — a group
  8. swing — music
  9. current — happening now
  10. swing — in golf
  11. suit — clothes
  12. can — a tin
  13. swing — to play on
  14. current — of water
  15. club — for dancing
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. current — electric
  18. club — for golf
  19. net — in sport
  20. bulb — for light
  21. suit — to fit
  22. net — after costs
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. suit — in cards

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