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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. cap — a lid
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. cap — of ice
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. pop — music
  13. pop — soda
  14. bulb — for light
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. cap — a hat
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. calf — of the leg

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