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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mate — a friend
  3. tear — to rip
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. can — a tin
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. tear — from crying
  9. wake — a trail
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. tear — from crying
  13. mate — to breed
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bass — the fish
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bass — low music
  21. can — a tin
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mate — a partner
  24. can — to be able to

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