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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. stand — to bear
  3. staff — employees
  4. bank — for money
  5. staff — a stick
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bank — for money
  10. staff — employees
  11. rush — hurry
  12. bank — of a river
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. suit — to fit
  15. drill — army training
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. drill — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. suit — clothes
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. drill — a practice
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. suit — in cards

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