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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. ground — crushed
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. season — in sport
  8. tube — a container
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mark — a grade
  11. toast — bread
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. season — of the year
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ground — a position
  17. ground — the earth
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. tube — the underground
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bulb — for light
  24. deal — to handle

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