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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. field — a subject
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. bulb — for light
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. cue — for pool
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bulb — for light
  12. deal — to handle
  13. cue — a hint
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. field — farmland
  18. foot — a measure
  19. cue — a signal
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. field — for sport
  24. bowl — a football final

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