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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. press — a publisher
  5. bound — tied together
  6. hand — in cards
  7. bear — the animal
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. object — to protest
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bound — certain
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. object — an aim
  15. bound — obliged
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. press — newspapers
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hand — help
  23. press — to push
  24. object — a thing

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