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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: mouse · mate · bulb · cabinet · snap · safe · capital · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. capital — a city
  5. object — a thing
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mate — a partner
  10. bulb — for light
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. snap — to click
  14. object — to protest
  15. capital — money
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mate — to breed
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. mate — a friend
  24. cabinet — ministers

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