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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. bulb — for light
  5. swing — in golf
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. stand — to bear
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. pit — in a race
  11. bulb — for light
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. deal — to handle
  14. foot — a measure
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. pit — a hole
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. swing — to play on
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. swing — music

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