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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: lean · cabinet · stock · bound · bulb · chair · spell · safe

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. lean — thin
  3. spell — letters
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bound — certain
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — shares
  12. bound — tied together
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. spell — magic
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bulb — for light
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. lean — to bend
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bound — obliged
  23. chair — a leader
  24. cabinet — ministers

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