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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mark · bulb · safe · kick · current · season · march · arm

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. march — the month
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mark — a grade
  7. current — of water
  8. season — of the year
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. current — happening now
  14. mark — a trace
  15. current — electric
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. march — music
  18. kick — in football
  19. season — in sport
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. march — the month
  24. bulb — for light

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