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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bulb — for light
  4. plane — a tool
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. suit — to fit
  8. lean — thin
  9. bore — to drill
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. suit — in cards
  12. track — a path
  13. track — to keep track
  14. can — a tin
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. can — a tin
  17. bulb — for light
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. track — a song
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bore — to tire
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. lean — to bend
  24. can — to be able to

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