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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 120 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: club · bulb · prune · suit · wake · bound · wax · safe

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. bulb — for light
  2. club — for dancing
  3. bound — obliged
  4. suit — in cards
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. suit — clothes
  9. prune — to trim
  10. wake — a trail
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. bound — tied together
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. prune — to trim
  16. club — a group
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bound — certain
  21. club — for golf
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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