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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. rash — a series
  3. key — in music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. stand — to bear
  8. kick — in football
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stem — to come from
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. perch — the fish
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. key — for a lock
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. rash — hasty
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bay — a horse colour

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