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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pop — soda
  10. sharp — clever
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. pop — music
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. toast — bread
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. pop — to visit
  24. patient — a sick person

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