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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lie — to recline
  3. can — a tin
  4. staff — employees
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. prune — to trim
  8. scale — in music
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pound — a weight
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. staff — employees
  19. scale — size or range
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. staff — a stick
  24. can — to be able to

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