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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: jam · bulb · hide · leaves · face · safe · object · wind

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bulb — for light
  3. face — part of the head
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. face — to point toward
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. wind — moving air
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. wind — moving air
  13. bulb — for light
  14. face — to confront
  15. object — a thing
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. object — to protest
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. object — an aim
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. wind — to turn a key

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