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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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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: safe · present · march · temple · lash · bulb · ruler · key

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. march — the month
  4. present — the time now
  5. bulb — for light
  6. present — there
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. key — for a lock
  17. key — the most important part
  18. march — music
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. bulb — for light
  22. march — the month
  23. key — in music
  24. ruler — for measuring

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