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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 124 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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. pop — to visit
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. bulb — for light
  5. suit — to fit
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. plane — a tool
  8. bulb — for light
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. current — of water
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. fall — to drop
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. current — electric
  15. pop — soda
  16. rock — music
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. toast — bread
  19. suit — in cards
  20. rock — a stone
  21. pop — music
  22. fall — the season
  23. suit — clothes
  24. current — happening now

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