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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. lean — thin
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. saw — the tool
  8. roll — a list
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. bulb — for light
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. roll — a cake
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bulb — for light
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. saw — the tool
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. bulb — of a plant

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