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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 · pit · pop · jam · bulb · pass · racket · wound

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. pit — in a race
  5. bulb — for light
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bulb — for light
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. pop — music
  12. pit — a hole
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. wound — an injury
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pop — soda
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. jam — a tight spot

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