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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: ruler · bowl · spell · jam · pass · bulb · safe · cap

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. pass — a permit
  9. cap — of ice
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. spell — magic
  13. cap — a lid
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. spell — a short time
  18. spell — letters
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. cap — a hat
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bowl — a football final

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