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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: deal · toast · bulb · band · squash · swing · safe · fan

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. swing — in golf
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. bulb — for light
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bulb — for light
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. squash — the sport
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. band — a ring
  19. swing — music
  20. toast — bread
  21. deal — to handle
  22. band — a music group
  23. swing — to play on
  24. deal — a big deal

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