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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. suit — to fit
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. can — a tin
  7. bulb — for light
  8. suit — clothes
  9. lean — thin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. staff — employees
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. staff — employees
  15. bass — the fish
  16. lean — to bend
  17. staff — a stick
  18. bass — low music
  19. can — a tin
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bulb — for light
  22. sharp — clever
  23. suit — in cards
  24. lean — to rest against

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