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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. bulb — for light
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. can — a tin
  6. spell — letters
  7. can — a tin
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. spell — magic
  10. squash — the sport
  11. cap — of ice
  12. can — to be able to
  13. swing — music
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fine — high quality
  16. squash — to crush
  17. swing — to play on
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. pass — a permit
  22. cap — a hat
  23. fine — all right
  24. swing — in golf

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