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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. object — to protest
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. object — a thing
  5. deal — to handle
  6. object — an aim
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. perch — the fish
  10. tube — the underground
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. tube — a container
  17. present — the time now
  18. present — there
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bulb — for light
  21. present — a gift
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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