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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. object — a thing
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. track — a path
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. toast — bread
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mug — to rob
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bulb — for light
  14. object — an aim
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. bear — the animal
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. bulb — for light
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mug — a face
  22. track — a song
  23. track — to keep track
  24. object — to protest

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