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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bore — to tire
  7. lean — thin
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. rule — a law
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. prune — to trim
  17. bulb — for light
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. court — of law
  20. bore — to drill
  21. court — for sport
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. lean — to bend
  24. rule — government

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