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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bound — tied together
  3. fine — high quality
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. court — for sport
  6. bound — obliged
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. court — of a king
  9. spring — a coil
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. spring — the season
  14. court — of law
  15. spring — of water
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. bound — certain
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. fine — all right
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bulb — for light

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