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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. suit — clothes
  3. rush — hurry
  4. mate — to breed
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. tube — a container
  7. bulb — for light
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. ball — a dance
  10. ball — a great time
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. pit — a hole
  16. tube — the underground
  17. mate — a partner
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. suit — to fit
  23. pit — in a race
  24. suit — in cards

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