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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bulb — for light
  4. fall — to drop
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. fall — to drop
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. cue — a hint
  9. bound — obliged
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. cue — for pool
  16. fall — the season
  17. cue — a signal
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. chip — for betting
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. chip — to eat
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bound — certain

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