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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. scale — size or range
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. bulb — for light
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. kick — in football
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. bulb — for light
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. bound — tied together
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  24. kick — with a leg

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