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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. object — a thing
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mate — a friend
  6. season — of the year
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. mate — a partner
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. season — in sport
  12. staff — employees
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mark — a trace
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. object — to protest
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. object — an aim
  23. staff — a stick
  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