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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. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. bulb — for light
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bank — for money
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bank — for money
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. bank — of a river
  14. bulb — for light
  15. craft — a skill
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. saw — the tool
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bark — to shout
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. foot — a measure
  23. craft — boats
  24. fan — a supporter

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