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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stem — to come from
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. row — to paddle
  14. ground — a position
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. row — a line
  19. ground — crushed
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. ground — the earth
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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