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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. game — a match
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. ground — the earth
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. current — of water
  9. current — electric
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. game — wild animals
  13. ground — crushed
  14. bulb — for light
  15. ground — a position
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. current — happening now
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — obliged
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. toast — bread
  24. safe — a strongbox

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