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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 · stick · season · saw · safe · bear · ball · mouse

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bear — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bear — the animal
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. season — in sport
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bulb — for light
  17. season — of the year
  18. saw — the tool
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a dance
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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