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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. root — of a plant
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. cue — a hint
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pit — in a race
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. charge — electricity
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. charge — in control
  16. bear — the animal
  17. charge — a price
  18. root — of a word
  19. bulb — for light
  20. root — the cause
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. cue — for pool
  23. pit — a hole
  24. cue — a signal

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