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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: racket · sharp · hide · bear · toast · lie · march · bulb

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. lie — to recline
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. bear — the animal
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. march — music
  15. bear — the animal
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. toast — bread
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bulb — for light
  23. march — the month
  24. sharp — exactly

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