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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. bulb — for light
  3. wound — an injury
  4. rest — what's left
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. season — in sport
  9. pass — a permit
  10. season — of the year
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rest — a break
  16. wound — an injury
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rest — what's left
  20. wake — a trail
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. bulb — of a plant

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