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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: fan · mouse · safe · pop · bulb · file · chip · bound

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bulb — for light
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. bound — certain
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bound — tied together
  10. file — a tool
  11. file — a line of people
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. chip — for betting
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pop — soda
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pop — music
  18. file — a document
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. chip — to eat
  22. bound — obliged
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mouse — for a computer

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