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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. key — in music
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. land — a country
  6. stem — to come from
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. stand — to bear
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bulb — for light
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. key — the most important part
  18. land — ground
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. land — to come down
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bulb — for light

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