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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: bulb · tube · season · jam · safe · ruler · lie · wax

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. season — in sport
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. tube — a container
  8. bulb — for light
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. wax — to grow
  11. tube — the underground
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bulb — for light
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — of the year
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. ruler — a monarch

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