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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. lean — thin
  3. present — there
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. season — in sport
  6. craft — a skill
  7. craft — boats
  8. present — a gift
  9. suit — clothes
  10. tube — the underground
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. present — the time now
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. bulb — for light
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. tube — a container
  20. suit — to fit
  21. suit — in cards
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. season — of the year
  24. lean — to rest against

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