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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. craft — a skill
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. bulb — for light
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. bound — tied together
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. stock — goods
  13. stock — shares
  14. bound — certain
  15. face — part of the head
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. face — to point toward
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. face — to confront
  22. craft — boats
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bound — obliged

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