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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bound — tied together
  5. staff — employees
  6. season — in sport
  7. cue — a signal
  8. bore — to tire
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. staff — a stick
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. cue — a hint
  15. staff — employees
  16. cue — for pool
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. bulb — for light
  21. season — of the year
  22. bound — certain
  23. bore — to drill
  24. season — to add flavour

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