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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. rock — a stone
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. rock — music
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. bulb — for light
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. foot — a measure
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. bulb — for light
  24. trunk — of a car

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