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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: net · bulb · court · suit · safe · can · bass · saw

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. court — for sport
  3. bass — low music
  4. saw — the tool
  5. suit — in cards
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bulb — for light
  8. net — in sport
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. saw — the tool
  14. court — of a king
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. net — after costs
  17. bass — the fish
  18. net — for catching
  19. can — to be able to
  20. court — of law
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. suit — clothes
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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