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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: chair · racket · foot · safe · dip · leaves · bulb · shower

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. shower — to wash
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. shower — rain
  15. foot — a measure
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. chair — a leader
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. leaves — of a tree

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