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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. object — a thing
  7. stand — to bear
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. net — after costs
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bulb — for light
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. net — in sport
  17. bear — the animal
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. object — an aim
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. bear — the animal
  23. object — to protest
  24. calf — of the leg

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