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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bulb — for light
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. object — a thing
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. rest — what's left
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. root — of a plant
  11. rest — a break
  12. object — to protest
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bound — obliged
  16. object — an aim
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pitch — completely
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bound — tied together
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bound — certain
  23. root — of a word
  24. root — the cause

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