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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. pit — in a race
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bulb — for light
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bulb — for light
  11. season — in sport
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. object — a thing
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. pit — a hole
  16. season — of the year
  17. object — an aim
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. object — to protest
  24. branch — a division

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