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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 120 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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — certain
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bound — obliged
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. root — the cause
  19. root — of a plant
  20. foot — a measure
  21. ground — the earth
  22. ground — a position
  23. ground — crushed
  24. root — of a word

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