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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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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: suit · fork · bulb · key · bore · roll · deal · pit

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. key — in music
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. suit — in cards
  5. pit — in a race
  6. key — for a lock
  7. bore — to tire
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. roll — a cake
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. suit — to fit
  13. fork — in a road
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bulb — for light
  16. roll — a list
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. deal — to handle
  21. pit — a hole
  22. key — the most important part
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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