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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lie — to recline
  4. prune — to trim
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bulb — for light
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — to trim
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bulb — for light
  21. season — in sport
  22. kid — child
  23. kid — to tease
  24. foot — a measure

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