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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: suit · sharp · dip · last · capital · key · bulb · can

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. capital — a city
  6. last — finally
  7. key — for a lock
  8. key — the most important part
  9. suit — in cards
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — to sink
  12. capital — a big letter
  13. last — final
  14. bulb — for light
  15. can — a tin
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. capital — money
  19. can — to be able to
  20. suit — to fit
  21. can — a tin
  22. suit — clothes
  23. sharp — clever
  24. last — to go on

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