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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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bulb — for light
  4. fine — high quality
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. squash — the sport
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. bulb — for light
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. cue — for pool
  15. cue — a signal
  16. scale — in music
  17. suit — to fit
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — in cards
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. fine — all right
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. cue — a hint
  24. scale — size or range

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