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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bulb — for light
  3. can — a tin
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. can — a tin
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. staff — employees
  12. can — to be able to
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. staff — a stick
  17. bear — the animal
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bear — the animal
  22. staff — employees
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. sharp — exactly

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