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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. land — to come down
  5. spring — the season
  6. bore — to drill
  7. mark — a grade
  8. spring — a coil
  9. bore — to tire
  10. land — a country
  11. mark — a trace
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. land — ground
  14. rest — what's left
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. spring — of water
  17. can — a tin
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rest — what's left
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. can — a tin
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. rest — a break
  24. can — to be able to

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