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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
468
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: bear · bore · suit · rash · leaves · bulb · rock · key

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. rash — hasty
  3. bore — to tire
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. key — in music
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rock — music
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. key — the most important part
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bear — the animal
  14. suit — clothes
  15. suit — to fit
  16. bore — to drill
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rash — a series
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. suit — in cards
  23. key — for a lock
  24. rock — a 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