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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mark — a grade
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. lie — to recline
  11. chip — for betting
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. bound — obliged
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. bound — certain
  18. mark — a trace
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. perch — the fish
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. chip — to eat

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