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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 116 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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bulb — for light
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. spring — the season
  9. spring — a coil
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. ball — a great time
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. object — a thing
  15. bear — the animal
  16. object — an aim
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. spring — of water
  20. mug — a face
  21. mug — a cup
  22. object — to protest
  23. mug — to rob
  24. bear — the animal

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