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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — certain
  5. present — the time now
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. spell — magic
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. branch — a division
  12. present — there
  13. bound — obliged
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. spell — letters
  18. bear — the animal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bear — the animal
  21. present — a gift
  22. spell — a short time
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bulb — for light

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