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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: safe · press · bulb · mug · saw · roll · bound · object

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. mug — a face
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bound — certain
  5. press — a publisher
  6. object — an aim
  7. bulb — for light
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. saw — the tool
  10. press — to push
  11. press — newspapers
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. object — a thing
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bound — tied together
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mug — to rob
  22. roll — a list
  23. object — to protest
  24. roll — a cake

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