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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. lie — to recline
  8. wound — an injury
  9. stem — to come from
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. wound — an injury
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. deal — to handle
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. stem — of a plant

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