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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 120 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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. rash — hasty
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. net — after costs
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. rock — music
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rock — a stone
  10. mine — for digging
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. bulb — for light
  16. net — in sport
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. saw — the tool
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. net — for catching
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. rock — to move gently

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