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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. ground — a position
  3. bank — for money
  4. spell — a short time
  5. bulb — for light
  6. spell — magic
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. suit — to fit
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. suit — in cards
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. spell — letters
  13. bank — of a river
  14. bear — the animal
  15. perch — the fish
  16. bank — for money
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. ground — crushed
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. ground — the earth
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bear — the animal

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