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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 116 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 belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. club — for golf
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. fine — all right
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — clothes
  13. fine — high quality
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. suit — to fit
  16. sharp — clever
  17. bulb — for light
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. club — for dancing
  22. squash — to crush
  23. squash — the sport
  24. mark — a trace

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