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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. craft — boats
  3. land — to come down
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. saw — the tool
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. mark — a grade
  8. craft — a skill
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pit — in a race
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. land — a country
  15. bulb — for light
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. bulb — for light
  18. land — ground
  19. mark — a trace
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. pit — a hole
  24. craft — a handicraft

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