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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. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. firm — decided
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bark — to shout
  9. bound — certain
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. bulb — for light
  12. firm — a company
  13. firm — steady
  14. ground — a position
  15. bound — obliged
  16. mug — to rob
  17. ground — crushed
  18. mug — a cup
  19. ground — the earth
  20. wake — a trail
  21. tube — a container
  22. mug — a face
  23. bound — tied together
  24. wake — before a funeral

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