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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. row — to paddle
  5. can — a tin
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mark — a grade
  10. mark — a trace
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rash — hasty
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. can — a tin
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. row — a line
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rash — a series

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