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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. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. bulb — for light
  3. chest — a box
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bulb — for light
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. chest — of your body
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. staff — a stick
  21. staff — employees
  22. rock — a stone
  23. staff — employees
  24. snap — to click

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