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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 120 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. row — to paddle
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bulb — for light
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mine — for digging
  15. bulb — for light
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. pass — a permit
  19. row — a line
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. calf — a young animal

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