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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. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. root — of a plant
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. rock — a stone
  8. last — finally
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. season — in sport
  11. bulb — for light
  12. stand — to bear
  13. rock — music
  14. bulb — for light
  15. last — final
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. season — of the year
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. last — to go on
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. root — of a word
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. root — the cause

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