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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. mate — a friend
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. club — for dancing
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. suit — to fit
  9. mate — a partner
  10. club — a group
  11. suit — clothes
  12. rock — music
  13. club — for golf
  14. mate — to breed
  15. rock — a stone
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. bulb — for light
  19. suit — in cards
  20. date — the fruit
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. rock — to move gently

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