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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: race · lie · saw · court · bulb · safe · cue · wound

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. race — a contest
  3. court — of law
  4. court — of a king
  5. court — for sport
  6. cue — a signal
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bulb — for light
  10. race — the arms race
  11. wound — an injury
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. saw — the tool
  15. cue — for pool
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cue — a hint
  18. race — humankind
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. lie — to recline
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. bulb — for light
  24. lie — an untruth

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