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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bulb — for light
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. current — happening now
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. current — of water
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — for light
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. squash — to crush
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. last — to go on
  15. current — electric
  16. last — finally
  17. squash — the sport
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. last — final

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