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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: trunk · safe · jam · ground · bulb · bass · dip · mate

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. ground — a position
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bass — low music
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mate — a friend
  9. dip — to sink
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. ground — crushed
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. mate — a partner
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. mate — to breed
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. bulb — for light

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