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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. net — in sport
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pass — a permit
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. bear — the animal
  13. net — for catching
  14. saw — the tool
  15. net — after costs
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rock — music
  19. rock — a stone
  20. bear — the animal
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bulb — for light
  24. rush — a thrill

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