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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. ground — a position
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. track — to keep track
  7. track — a song
  8. ground — the earth
  9. ground — crushed
  10. bulb — for light
  11. spring — a coil
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. pitch — completely
  21. spring — the season
  22. spring — of water
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. track — a path

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