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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: march · bulb · foot · object · safe · leaves · jam · dip

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. march — the month
  4. march — music
  5. foot — a measure
  6. dip — to sink
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bulb — for light
  10. object — to protest
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. object — an aim
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. bulb — for light
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. march — the month
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. object — a thing

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