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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. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. fine — all right
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cell — in biology
  6. rash — hasty
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rash — a series
  9. track — to keep track
  10. fine — high quality
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. track — a song
  17. track — a path
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stand — to bear
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. cell — a phone

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