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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. cap — of ice
  4. cap — a hat
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bulb — for light
  7. craft — a skill
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mark — a trace
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. drill — the tool
  13. bound — tied together
  14. craft — boats
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. drill — army training
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. drill — a practice
  20. cap — a lid
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rush — hurry
  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