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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. cell — in biology
  3. net — after costs
  4. net — for catching
  5. chip — for betting
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. bulb — for light
  8. chip — to eat
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. cell — a phone
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bound — tied together
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bound — certain
  22. prune — to trim
  23. net — in sport
  24. bulb — for light

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