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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. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. pass — a permit
  7. perch — the fish
  8. mug — a cup
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bank — for money
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. bank — of a river
  15. mug — to rob
  16. wax — to grow
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bank — for money
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. mug — a face
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bulb — for light
  24. wax — in the ear

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