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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. pit — in a race
  3. fall — to drop
  4. sharp — clever
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. fall — to drop
  11. firm — decided
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bound — obliged
  17. firm — a company
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. bound — certain
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. fall — the season
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. firm — steady

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