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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bulb — for light
  4. fine — high quality
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. sharp — clever
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. fine — all right
  13. mark — a grade
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. bear — the animal
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. foot — a measure
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. mark — a trace

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