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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. bound — certain
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. mark — a trace
  5. bound — tied together
  6. fall — to drop
  7. spring — of water
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. spring — the season
  10. mark — a grade
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bulb — for light
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. fall — to drop
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. fall — the season
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bound — obliged
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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