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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: bay · track · bulb · safe · fine · can · fall · bark

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. fine — all right
  3. bulb — for light
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. can — a tin
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. bulb — for light
  8. can — a tin
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. can — to be able to
  11. fall — to drop
  12. track — a path
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. track — to keep track
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fall — the season
  19. fine — high quality
  20. track — a song
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. fine — a penalty

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