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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: mug · calf · cold · saw · pit · suit · pop · bulb

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  3. The water is too ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. cold — an illness
  3. cold — not warm
  4. suit — to fit
  5. pop — to visit
  6. bulb — for light
  7. cold — the Cold War
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mug — a face
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. pit — a hole
  13. bulb — for light
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pop — soda
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pop — music
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. mug — to rob
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. suit — clothes
  23. pit — in a race
  24. mug — a cup

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