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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. saw — the tool
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. game — a match
  13. mark — a grade
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bulb — for light
  16. game — wild animals
  17. content — happy
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. content — the amount
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. pass — a permit

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