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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. object — to protest
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. deal — to handle
  8. bulb — for light
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. pass — a permit
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. rash — a series
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rash — hasty
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. object — a thing
  20. object — an aim
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. temple — a place of worship

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