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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. cell — in biology
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cell — a phone
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a trace
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. mark — a grade
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. lie — to recline
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. pitcher — a jug

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