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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: bulb · content · prune · bound · wave · arm · safe · can

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  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. arm — a part of something
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. can — a tin
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bound — obliged
  7. prune — to trim
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. can — a tin
  10. content — the amount
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. bulb — for light
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bound — certain
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. can — to be able to
  19. prune — to trim
  20. content — happy
  21. bulb — for light
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. bound — tied together
  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