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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: date · mine · bulb · rush · nail · can · suit · content

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bulb — for light
  3. can — a tin
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. suit — clothes
  10. can — a tin
  11. mine — for digging
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. content — happy
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. rush — hurry
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. content — the amount
  18. suit — to fit
  19. bulb — for light
  20. date — the fruit
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. suit — in cards

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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