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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. bulb — for light
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pass — a permit
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. stem — to come from
  10. mug — a cup
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. present — there
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mug — a face
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. stock — goods
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. stock — shares
  22. present — the time now
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. safe — out of danger

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