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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've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. key — the most important part
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. suit — in cards
  8. bulb — for light
  9. dip — to sink
  10. file — a line of people
  11. wind — moving air
  12. wind — moving air
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. key — for a lock
  16. suit — to fit
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. suit — clothes
  19. key — in music
  20. file — a tool
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. stand — to bear
  23. file — a document
  24. lash — to lash out

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