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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bank — for money
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bulb — for light
  11. chair — a leader
  12. bulb — for light
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. wound — an injury
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. bank — of a river
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. deal — to handle
  22. bank — for money
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. chair — a professorship

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