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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  3. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. wind — moving air
  3. wind — to turn a key
  4. bulb — for light
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. wind — moving air
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. shower — rain
  10. shower — to wash
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. rock — music
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bass — low music
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bass — the fish

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