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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 116 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bulb — for light
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. perch — the fish
  15. lie — to recline
  16. chip — to eat
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bulb — for light
  22. chip — for betting
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. perch — for a bird

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