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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · prune · bay · mark · rest · bulb

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rest — a break
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mark — a grade
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. lie — to recline
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. mark — a trace
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. prune — to trim
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bay — a part of the sea

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