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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 116 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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. bulb — for light
  6. rock — a stone
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. root — the cause
  10. spring — of water
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. root — of a plant
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. root — of a word
  17. spring — a coil
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. spring — the season
  23. rock — music
  24. mine — an explosive

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