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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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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. squash — the sport
  8. squash — to crush
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bound — certain
  11. press — a publisher
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. wound — an injury
  14. bound — tied together
  15. object — an aim
  16. object — to protest
  17. saw — the tool
  18. object — a thing
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bound — obliged
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. wound — an injury
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. bulb — for light

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