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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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: leaves · season · bound · pop · staff · hide · bulb · firm

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. staff — employees
  3. pop — music
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. season — of the year
  7. season — in sport
  8. firm — decided
  9. firm — steady
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bulb — for light
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. bulb — for light
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bound — tied together
  17. staff — a stick
  18. pop — to visit
  19. firm — a company
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. pop — soda
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bound — obliged
  24. staff — employees

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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