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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 120 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. current — happening now
  3. fine — all right
  4. net — in sport
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mate — a friend
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. cell — a phone
  9. cell — in biology
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. foot — a measure
  12. current — electric
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — high quality
  15. current — of water
  16. net — for catching
  17. bulb — for light
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. mate — to breed
  21. net — after costs
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bulb — of a plant

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