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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 116 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. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. current — electric
  8. suit — clothes
  9. suit — in cards
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. fine — high quality
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. suit — to fit
  16. bulb — for light
  17. current — of water
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stem — to come from
  20. current — happening now
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. bulb — for light
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. fine — all right

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