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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bulb — for light
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. perch — the fish
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. bound — tied together
  12. saw — the tool
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bound — certain
  15. mate — a partner
  16. season — in sport
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bulb — for light
  20. season — of the year
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. mate — to breed
  23. bound — obliged
  24. mouse — the animal

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