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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. saw — the tool
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. can — a tin
  7. shower — to wash
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. can — to be able to
  12. shower — rain
  13. saw — the tool
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. can — a tin
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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