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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. bulb — for light
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. chip — for betting
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. bear — the animal
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. chip — to eat
  18. current — of water
  19. current — happening now
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. current — electric
  23. bay — a horse colour
  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