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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 120 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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  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. bulb — of a plant
  3. bound — obliged
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lean — thin
  8. bound — certain
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rush — hurry
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. mate — a friend
  14. stem — to come from
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. mate — a partner
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. lean — to bend
  22. bound — tied together
  23. rush — a thrill
  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