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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. club — for golf
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. stand — to bear
  10. club — a group
  11. swing — music
  12. wax — to grow
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. swing — in golf
  15. roll — a cake
  16. swing — to play on
  17. club — for dancing
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. roll — a list
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. bulb — for light
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. pass — a permit

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