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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 116 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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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: present · pit · bulb · safe · snap · pass · suit · face

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. present — the time now
  5. face — to point toward
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. present — a gift
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. suit — in cards
  11. face — part of the head
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. pit — in a race
  14. present — there
  15. suit — clothes
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. face — to confront
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. snap — to click
  21. suit — to fit
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pass — a permit

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