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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 · face · tube · bulb · wake · content · safe · present

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. bulb — for light
  3. content — happy
  4. wake — a trail
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. present — there
  7. tube — the underground
  8. face — to point toward
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mark — a trace
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. face — to confront
  14. face — part of the head
  15. content — the amount
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. tube — a container
  18. present — a gift
  19. bulb — for light
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. mark — a grade
  23. present — the time now
  24. content — videos and posts

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