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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. net — in sport
  3. bound — obliged
  4. ground — crushed
  5. ground — a position
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. object — an aim
  11. net — after costs
  12. toast — bread
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. can — to be able to
  15. object — a thing
  16. ground — the earth
  17. bulb — for light
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bound — certain
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. bound — tied together
  23. object — to protest
  24. bulb — for light

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