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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  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 — of a plant
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. saw — the tool
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. wind — moving air
  14. saw — the tool
  15. can — a tin
  16. craft — boats
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. can — a tin
  21. craft — a skill
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. wind — moving air
  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