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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bulb — for light
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. branch — a division
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. squash — to crush
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. can — a tin
  20. squash — the sport
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. sharp — clever

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