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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: nail · bulb · leaves · tube · shower · net · rest · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. net — for catching
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. net — in sport
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. rest — what's left
  9. tube — a container
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rest — a break
  12. bulb — for light
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. shower — to wash
  16. tube — the underground
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. net — after costs
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. shower — rain
  24. leaves — of a tree

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