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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. vault — a safe
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bulb — for light
  10. cue — a hint
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. kid — child
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bulb — for light
  16. kid — to tease
  17. game — a match
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. cue — a signal
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. game — wild animals
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. cue — for pool
  24. nail — for a hammer

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