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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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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: toast · court · mate · staff · bulb · leaves · hide · bound

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. court — of law
  3. staff — a stick
  4. staff — employees
  5. mate — to breed
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bulb — for light
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bound — tied together
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bulb — for light
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. court — for sport
  16. bound — obliged
  17. staff — employees
  18. court — of a king
  19. toast — bread
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bound — certain
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mate — a partner

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