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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 116 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
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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: cabinet · bulb · ball · cap · mate · wound · saw · safe

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cap — a hat
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. cap — of ice
  9. wound — an injury
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mate — a friend
  14. wound — an injury
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cap — a lid
  17. mate — to breed
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. ball — a great time
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mate — a partner
  24. ball — a round shape

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