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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: mug · cabinet · content · wake · rash · bulb · safe · court

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. court — of law
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. content — the amount
  5. content — happy
  6. mug — a cup
  7. wake — a trail
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. rash — a series
  10. mug — to rob
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bulb — for light
  13. court — for sport
  14. court — of a king
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. rash — hasty
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bulb — for light
  24. mug — a face

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