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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. suit — to fit
  5. bound — certain
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rash — hasty
  10. staff — employees
  11. rash — a series
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bulb — for light
  14. pitch — completely
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. content — happy
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. content — the amount
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. staff — a stick
  22. staff — employees
  23. suit — clothes
  24. content — videos and posts

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