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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cue — a signal
  3. content — happy
  4. bulb — for light
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bulb — for light
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rash — a series
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. season — of the year
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. content — the amount
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. rash — hasty
  19. chair — a leader
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. season — in sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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