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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: bay · tear · mine · suit · mug · object · plane · bulb

  1. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. plane — a tool
  5. mine — for digging
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. object — an aim
  8. mug — a cup
  9. tear — from crying
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. bulb — for light
  12. object — a thing
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. mug — to rob
  15. suit — in cards
  16. suit — clothes
  17. tear — to rip
  18. bulb — for light
  19. object — to protest
  20. suit — to fit
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. mug — a face

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