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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. firm — decided
  3. clip — to cut
  4. can — a tin
  5. object — an aim
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. key — in music
  8. clip — for paper
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. can — a tin
  11. clip — a video
  12. season — in sport
  13. object — to protest
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — for light
  16. season — of the year
  17. toast — bread
  18. firm — a company
  19. object — a thing
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. key — the most important part
  22. firm — steady
  23. key — for a lock
  24. can — to be able to

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