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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. chair — a leader
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. wake — a trail
  5. can — to be able to
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. can — a tin
  8. firm — decided
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. pass — a permit
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — for light
  14. ball — a dance
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. firm — a company
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. ball — a great time
  23. firm — steady
  24. can — a tin

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