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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bulb — for light
  3. board — to get on
  4. squash — the sport
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. mate — a partner
  7. squash — to crush
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. mate — to breed
  12. foot — a measure
  13. pit — in a race
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. perch — the fish
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bulb — for light
  20. board — a committee
  21. mate — a friend
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. pit — a hole

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