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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The water is too ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. bear — the animal
  4. toast — bread
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. firm — decided
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. cold — the Cold War
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. firm — a company
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. cold — an illness
  23. firm — steady
  24. cold — not warm

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