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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. bulb — for light
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bulb — for light
  6. current — electric
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. spring — the season
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. suit — to fit
  11. spring — a coil
  12. mark — a grade
  13. current — of water
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. spring — of water
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. suit — in cards
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. mark — a trace
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. current — happening now
  24. dip — to sink

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