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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. wound — an injury
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. spell — letters
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. prune — to trim
  8. prune — to trim
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. spell — magic
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. spell — a short time
  13. squash — to crush
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. wound — an injury
  18. bulb — for light
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. squash — the sport
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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