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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. club — for dancing
  5. club — a group
  6. dip — to sink
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bulb — for light
  9. date — the fruit
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. fine — high quality
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. bulb — for light
  15. club — for golf
  16. bass — the fish
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bass — low music
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fine — all right

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