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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: chest · safe · row · bulb · board · rash · firm · mate

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. firm — steady
  3. rash — a series
  4. row — to paddle
  5. chest — a box
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. chest — of your body
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mate — a friend
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rash — hasty
  14. mate — to breed
  15. firm — a company
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. row — a line
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. board — to get on
  21. chest — of your body
  22. board — a committee
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. firm — decided

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