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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. roll — a cake
  3. roll — a list
  4. date — the fruit
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. bound — tied together
  7. current — electric
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. bound — certain
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. bulb — for light
  17. current — of water
  18. current — happening now
  19. wax — to grow
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. bulb — for light

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