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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 120 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: sharp · snap · coach · rush · safe · ground · bulb · bear

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. snap — to click
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. bulb — for light
  6. ground — the earth
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bear — the animal
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. ground — crushed
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bulb — for light
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. ground — a position

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