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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 · key · bowl · sharp · press · season · bulb · deal

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. bulb — for light
  3. key — for a lock
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. suit — to fit
  8. suit — in cards
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. season — in sport
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. press — a publisher
  13. press — newspapers
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. key — the most important part
  16. bulb — for light
  17. deal — to handle
  18. sharp — clever
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. press — to push
  22. key — in music
  23. suit — clothes
  24. season — of the year

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