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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. bulb — for light
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. can — to be able to
  5. mate — a friend
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. pass — a permit
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. can — a tin
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bulb — for light
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. mate — to breed
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. date — the fruit
  23. mate — a partner
  24. calf — a young animal

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