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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 124 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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bark — to shout
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. can — a tin
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. fork — in a road
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bulb — for light
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. lean — to bend
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. lean — thin
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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