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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pound — a weight
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. rush — hurry
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. lash — an eyelash

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