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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. saw — the tool
  4. last — to go on
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bulb — for light
  7. saw — the tool
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. current — electric
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bulb — for light
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. last — final
  14. current — happening now
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. current — of water
  18. bound — certain
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bound — tied together
  23. last — finally
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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