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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: bulb · safe · fine · pass · field · mouse · coach · mug

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. fine — high quality
  3. field — for sport
  4. bulb — for light
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mug — a cup
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. pass — a permit
  15. mug — a face
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. field — farmland
  18. fine — all right
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. field — a subject
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pass — to spend time

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