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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. game — a match
  7. bound — certain
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. staff — employees
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bound — tied together
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. deal — to handle
  16. bulb — for light
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. game — wild animals
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. staff — a stick
  24. leaves — to go away

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