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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. pound — a weight
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. fork — in a road
  13. net — for catching
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. board — a committee
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. net — after costs
  19. net — in sport
  20. bulb — for light
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. board — to get on

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