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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: lean · rush · bulb · cabinet · fine · season · suit · wave

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. lean — to bend
  4. rush — hurry
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bulb — for light
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. suit — in cards
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. season — of the year
  14. lean — thin
  15. suit — to fit
  16. fine — all right
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. season — in sport
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. suit — clothes

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