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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. land — a country
  3. firm — steady
  4. season — in sport
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. land — ground
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. firm — a company
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. bass — the fish
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. firm — decided
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. land — to come down
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bass — low music
  23. season — of the year
  24. safe — a strongbox

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