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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. bear — the animal
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mug — a cup
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — for light
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mug — a face
  18. fall — to drop
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. fall — the season
  21. fall — to drop
  22. bear — the animal
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stand — for spectators

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