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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: safe · lash · game · shower · bulb · bound · jam · pitcher

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. game — a match
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bound — certain
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. shower — rain
  11. shower — to wash
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — obliged
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. game — wild animals
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  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