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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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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: scale · bulb · leaves · foot · rush · content · pitcher · safe

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. scale — in music
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. foot — a measure
  11. scale — size or range
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. bulb — for light
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. content — happy
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. rush — hurry

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