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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. suit — clothes
  3. snap — to click
  4. suit — in cards
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. suit — to fit
  9. rock — music
  10. mate — to breed
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mate — a partner
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. drill — army training
  16. rule — government
  17. rest — what's left
  18. drill — the tool
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rule — a law
  21. rest — a break
  22. drill — a practice
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. mate — a friend

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