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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. row — to paddle
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mate — a partner
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bulb — for light
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. dip — to sink
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bound — obliged
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. stock — goods
  15. mate — a friend
  16. row — a line
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. stock — shares
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. bound — certain
  23. bulb — for light
  24. jam — a tight spot

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