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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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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: fine · cap · mate · cue · kick · safe · band · bulb

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. bulb — for light
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fine — all right
  7. kick — in football
  8. band — a music group
  9. mate — a friend
  10. mate — a partner
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. band — a ring
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. fine — high quality
  15. cap — a hat
  16. cue — a signal
  17. mate — to breed
  18. bulb — for light
  19. cap — of ice
  20. cap — a lid
  21. cue — a hint
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. cue — for pool
  24. kick — with a leg

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