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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. current — of water
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. court — for sport
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. court — of law
  10. current — happening now
  11. pass — a permit
  12. chest — of your body
  13. chest — of your body
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. dip — to sink
  18. current — electric
  19. bulb — for light
  20. chest — a box
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. court — of a king
  24. bulb — for light

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