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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 · row · mug · foot · ball · craft · patient · bulb

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. ball — a great time
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. craft — boats
  6. row — to paddle
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mug — a cup
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. mug — to rob
  12. ball — a dance
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. bulb — for light
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. craft — a skill
  20. bulb — for light
  21. foot — a measure
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. row — a line

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