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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bulb — for light
  4. lie — to recline
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. wake — a trail
  7. can — to be able to
  8. press — newspapers
  9. press — to push
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. press — a publisher
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. safe — a strongbox

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