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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: bulb · mate · safe · firm · bore · game · stand · branch

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. bore — to drill
  4. game — a match
  5. stand — to bear
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. firm — a company
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mate — a friend
  14. firm — steady
  15. firm — decided
  16. mate — to breed
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. branch — a division
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bore — to tire
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mate — a partner
  24. game — wild animals

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