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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: patient · bulb · can · safe · nail · temple · fan · charge

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. charge — a price
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. charge — electricity
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — for light
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. can — a tin
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. charge — in control
  23. fan — to cool the air
  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