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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. can — a tin
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. kick — in football
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. can — to be able to
  19. mine — for digging
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bulb — for light
  24. can — a tin

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