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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
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: tube · safe · season · temple · bound · bulb · current · content

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. tube — the underground
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. current — electric
  9. content — the amount
  10. season — in sport
  11. current — happening now
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — obliged
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. bulb — for light
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. content — happy
  20. current — of water
  21. season — of the year
  22. bound — tied together
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. tube — a container

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