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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: land · pop · bulb · safe · season · roll · foot · kick

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. roll — a list
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pop — to visit
  7. season — in sport
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. land — ground
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. pop — music
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. season — of the year
  15. roll — a cake
  16. foot — a measure
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. land — a country
  19. land — to come down
  20. kick — in football
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pop — soda
  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