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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. board — to get on
  5. mark — a trace
  6. net — in sport
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. squash — to crush
  10. band — a music group
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cue — for pool
  13. band — a ring
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. net — after costs
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. net — for catching
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mark — a grade
  21. board — a committee
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. squash — the sport

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