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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 120 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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. staff — a stick
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. staff — employees
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. staff — employees
  13. rush — hurry
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. tube — a container
  16. pass — a permit
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bulb — for light
  20. row — a line
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. tube — the underground
  23. row — to paddle
  24. lie — to recline

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