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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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. cue — a hint
  4. cap — of ice
  5. bulb — for light
  6. cue — for pool
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. roll — a list
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. cap — a lid
  11. firm — steady
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. roll — a cake
  14. cue — a signal
  15. firm — a company
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. bat — the animal
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. cap — a hat
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. bulb — for light
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. firm — decided

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