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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · stick · toast · calf · spring · firm · season · mark

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. firm — decided
  4. firm — steady
  5. bulb — for light
  6. toast — bread
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. bulb — for light
  9. season — of the year
  10. spring — a coil
  11. spring — the season
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. mark — a trace
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. mark — a grade
  23. firm — a company
  24. season — in sport

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