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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.

Make a worksheet

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: game · mug · squash · bulb · safe · temple · bay · face

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. face — to confront
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mug — a face
  6. game — a match
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. squash — the sport
  14. mug — to rob
  15. face — to point toward
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. squash — to crush
  19. mug — a cup
  20. game — wild animals
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. face — part of the head

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