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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. tear — from crying
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. saw — the tool
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. tear — to rip
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. can — to be able to
  17. rush — hurry
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. saw — the tool
  21. pitch — completely
  22. tear — from crying
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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