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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bulb — for light
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. track — to keep track
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. fine — high quality
  7. object — to protest
  8. season — of the year
  9. craft — boats
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. object — a thing
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. track — a song
  18. season — in sport
  19. object — an aim
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. fine — all right
  23. craft — a skill
  24. track — a path

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