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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards 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. deal — a big deal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. deal — to handle
  5. bulb — for light
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. squash — to crush
  8. squash — the sport
  9. rule — government
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. lean — thin
  12. roll — a cake
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. bulb — for light
  16. land — ground
  17. land — a country
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. land — to come down
  22. rule — a law
  23. roll — a list
  24. lean — to bend

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