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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. bulb — for light
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. ball — a great time
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. present — the time now
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. present — a gift
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — tied together
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. ball — a dance
  22. craft — a skill
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. craft — boats

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