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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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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: foot · toast · trunk · cabinet · season · bulb · mark · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. ground — a position
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. mark — a trace
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. toast — bread
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. ground — crushed
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bulb — for light
  15. foot — a measure
  16. season — in sport
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. season — of the year
  23. bulb — for light
  24. toast — the most admired

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