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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 116 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: bulb · rush · hide · bore · firm · pit · swing · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. pit — in a race
  6. bore — to drill
  7. can — a tin
  8. swing — in golf
  9. swing — music
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. can — to be able to
  12. swing — to play on
  13. firm — a company
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. firm — steady
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. firm — decided
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. pit — a hole
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bore — to tire

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