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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. charge — in control
  3. land — a country
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bound — obliged
  6. ball — a dance
  7. bulb — for light
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. land — to come down
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. charge — a price
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — hasty
  17. game — a match
  18. game — wild animals
  19. bound — certain
  20. charge — electricity
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bound — tied together
  23. ball — a great time
  24. land — ground

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