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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: bulb · rest · mark · mug · safe · pass · ball · cap

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. bulb — for light
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cap — a hat
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mark — a trace
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mug — a cup
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rest — what's left
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. mug — a face
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. ball — a great time
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. mug — to rob
  20. ball — a dance
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rest — a break
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. cap — a lid

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