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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: bulb · mouse · wound · safe · track · prune · cue · bore

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. cue — for pool
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. wound — an injury
  5. wound — an injury
  6. bore — to tire
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. prune — to trim
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. track — a path
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cue — a hint
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. bulb — for light
  20. cue — a signal
  21. track — a song
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. track — to keep track

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