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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 116 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: safe · mug · perch · mate · cabinet · tube · saw · bulb

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mug — to rob
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mug — a face
  6. bulb — for light
  7. saw — the tool
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mug — a cup
  10. tube — a container
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bulb — for light
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. perch — the fish
  16. tube — the underground
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. mate — to breed
  24. mate — a friend

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