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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: mouse · bore · jam · fine · prune · bulb · safe · land

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bore — to drill
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — all right
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. prune — to trim
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. prune — to trim
  19. land — a country
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. land — to come down
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bulb — for light
  24. land — ground

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