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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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468
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: fine · mug · bulb · wake · mouse · stem · safe · pitcher

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. fine — high quality
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mug — a face
  17. bulb — for light
  18. wake — a trail
  19. stem — to come from
  20. fine — all right
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. stem — a stem cell

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