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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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. squash — to crush
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. pitch — completely
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. bulb — for light
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. dip — to sink
  11. season — of the year
  12. bear — the animal
  13. rash — a series
  14. rash — hasty
  15. firm — steady
  16. bulb — for light
  17. firm — a company
  18. season — in sport
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. firm — decided
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. bear — the animal

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