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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  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. march — the month
  2. mark — a trace
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. deal — to handle
  7. prune — to trim
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. march — the month
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. prune — to trim
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. wound — an injury
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. march — music
  22. wound — an injury
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  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