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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · ground · safe · wound · key · patient · pass · cue

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. wound — an injury
  3. ground — a position
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. cue — a hint
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. bulb — for light
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. cue — for pool
  17. key — in music
  18. pass — a permit
  19. ground — the earth
  20. cue — a signal
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. key — the most important part
  23. wound — an injury
  24. bulb — for light

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