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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: hand · staff · ruler · safe · rule · bulb · track · bass

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. track — a path
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. hand — help
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. track — to keep track
  10. staff — a stick
  11. rule — government
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. staff — employees
  14. rule — a law
  15. track — a song
  16. hand — in cards
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bass — the fish
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bass — low music
  22. staff — employees
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. safe — out of danger

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