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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: nail · suit · stick · bulb · ball · pit · safe · row

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. row — to paddle
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. row — a line
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pit — a hole
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. suit — in cards
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bulb — for light
  19. ball — a great time
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. ball — a dance
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. suit — to fit
  24. pit — in a race

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