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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pop — music
  3. bank — for money
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. fine — high quality
  6. pop — to visit
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. pop — soda
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. wake — a trail
  12. bank — for money
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. bank — of a river
  16. mark — a grade
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. mark — a trace
  24. fine — all right

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