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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. firm — a company
  4. bulb — for light
  5. staff — employees
  6. staff — employees
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mate — to breed
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. bound — tied together
  13. ball — a great time
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. firm — decided
  16. staff — a stick
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. ball — a dance
  19. mate — a partner
  20. bound — certain
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. firm — steady
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. mate — a friend

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