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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: toast · jam · mate · hide · leaves · fine · ground · bulb

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. ground — a position
  5. bulb — for light
  6. ground — crushed
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. ground — the earth
  9. mate — a friend
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. toast — bread
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. fine — high quality
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. mate — a partner
  19. mate — to breed
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. fine — all right
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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