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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. mark — a trace
  3. can — a tin
  4. mate — a friend
  5. can — a tin
  6. spring — of water
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bulb — for light
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. can — to be able to
  12. mate — a partner
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. mate — to breed
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. stand — to bear
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. spring — a coil
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. spring — the season
  24. lie — to recline

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