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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: safe · mug · bore · fan · wave · bulb · bass · drill

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. drill — army training
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bulb — for light
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. bass — low music
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bore — to drill
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bore — to tire
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — a face
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. drill — a practice
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. drill — the tool

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