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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 120 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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. bulb — for light
  3. squash — to crush
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. present — the time now
  7. mark — a grade
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. rush — hurry
  15. present — a gift
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bulb — for light
  22. squash — the sport
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. safe — out of danger

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