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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. key — for a lock
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. row — to paddle
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. field — for sport
  8. bulb — for light
  9. key — in music
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. field — a subject
  13. content — the amount
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. row — a line
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. key — the most important part
  20. bulb — for light
  21. field — farmland
  22. foot — a measure
  23. content — happy
  24. safe — a strongbox

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