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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: plane · fine · hide · bulb · roll · rash · safe · pit

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. plane — a tool
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bulb — for light
  8. roll — a list
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. rash — a series
  16. pit — a hole
  17. fine — all right
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. roll — a cake
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pit — in a race
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. fine — high quality

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