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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 116 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 was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. mate — a partner
  4. mug — a cup
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. tube — a container
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bass — low music
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bass — the fish
  13. lie — to recline
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. bulb — for light
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. tube — the underground
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. mug — to rob
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. mate — a friend
  22. vault — a safe
  23. mug — a face
  24. lie — an untruth

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