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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 · prune · temple · safe · patient · current · craft · content

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. prune — to trim
  4. craft — boats
  5. bulb — for light
  6. current — happening now
  7. bulb — for light
  8. current — of water
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. content — the amount
  11. prune — to trim
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. craft — a skill
  14. current — electric
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. content — happy
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bulb — of a plant

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