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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. net — after costs
  4. mug — a face
  5. mug — to rob
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. track — a path
  11. season — in sport
  12. stem — to come from
  13. net — in sport
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. season — of the year
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. pitch — completely
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. mug — a cup
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. net — for catching
  23. track — to keep track
  24. track — a song

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