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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bulb — for light
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. suit — in cards
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. bass — low music
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — for light
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. bass — the fish
  17. suit — to fit
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. snap — to click
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. wax — to grow
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. suit — clothes

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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