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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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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: bound · bulb · bay · cue · fan · game · safe · fall

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — certain
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bulb — for light
  6. fall — to drop
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fall — to drop
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. game — wild animals
  19. fall — the season
  20. cue — for pool
  21. game — a match
  22. cue — a signal
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. safe — a strongbox

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