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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: club · dip · bulb · toast · tube · ground · suit · safe

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. ground — crushed
  4. ground — a position
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. club — for dancing
  7. suit — to fit
  8. tube — a container
  9. toast — bread
  10. tube — the underground
  11. bulb — for light
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. dip — to sink
  15. suit — clothes
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. club — for golf
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bulb — for light
  22. ground — the earth
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. safe — out of danger

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