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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. can — a tin
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. mate — a friend
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. staff — employees
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mate — a partner
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. spring — a coil
  16. spring — of water
  17. staff — a stick
  18. can — to be able to
  19. staff — employees
  20. spring — the season
  21. mate — to breed
  22. can — a tin
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. bulb — for light

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