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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. march — the month
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. lean — to bend
  6. march — the month
  7. bulb — for light
  8. current — of water
  9. prune — to trim
  10. bulb — for light
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. current — electric
  15. march — music
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. season — in sport
  19. season — of the year
  20. prune — to trim
  21. current — happening now
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. lean — thin

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