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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 chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mine — for digging
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. bulb — for light
  8. season — of the year
  9. tube — a container
  10. saw — the tool
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. mug — a cup
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. season — in sport
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. rule — government
  19. rule — a law
  20. fork — in a road
  21. saw — the tool
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. mug — a face
  24. tube — the underground

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