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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 124 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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rest — what's left
  4. season — in sport
  5. bulb — for light
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. season — of the year
  8. fork — in a road
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. rest — a break
  14. bulb — for light
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. lie — to recline
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rest — what's left
  24. lie — an untruth

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