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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 120 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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. mug — a face
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. suit — in cards
  8. mug — to rob
  9. band — a music group
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stand — to bear
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. bulb — for light
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. dip — to sink
  17. band — a ring
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. suit — clothes
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mug — a cup
  24. stand — on your feet

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