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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 116 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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. season — of the year
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. season — in sport
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — hurry
  24. pitcher — a jug

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