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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 124 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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fall · nail · bulb · season · craft · suit · swing · key

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. key — the most important part
  4. swing — in golf
  5. suit — clothes
  6. fall — to drop
  7. bulb — for light
  8. craft — a skill
  9. swing — music
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. fall — to drop
  12. key — for a lock
  13. season — of the year
  14. season — in sport
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. key — in music
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bulb — for light
  20. craft — boats
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. suit — to fit
  23. swing — to play on
  24. fall — the season

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