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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. key — the most important part
  3. stand — to bear
  4. land — ground
  5. bulb — for light
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. land — to come down
  9. scale — size or range
  10. press — newspapers
  11. board — a committee
  12. scale — in music
  13. key — in music
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. press — a publisher
  18. press — to push
  19. board — to get on
  20. bulb — for light
  21. key — for a lock
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. land — a country
  24. stand — for spectators

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