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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: fine · cue · bass · bulb · safe · root · sharp · roll

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bass — the fish
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. roll — a cake
  7. fine — all right
  8. bulb — for light
  9. cue — for pool
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cue — a hint
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. root — of a word
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. root — the cause
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. bass — low music
  21. fine — high quality
  22. root — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. sharp — with an edge

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