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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: deal · date · suit · swing · spell · board · lean · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. suit — clothes
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. deal — to handle
  6. spell — magic
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. date — the fruit
  9. lean — thin
  10. spell — letters
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. suit — in cards
  13. swing — in golf
  14. lean — to bend
  15. spell — a short time
  16. board — a committee
  17. swing — to play on
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bulb — for light
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. board — to get on
  23. swing — music
  24. suit — to fit

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