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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. fine — high quality
  4. suit — clothes
  5. sharp — clever
  6. scale — in music
  7. current — electric
  8. dip — to sink
  9. scale — size or range
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. current — happening now
  13. fine — all right
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. current — of water
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. suit — to fit
  24. fine — a penalty

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