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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: mug · safe · bulb · content · tube · toast · mate · rash

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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 — videos and posts
  4. content — happy
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mug — a face
  8. rash — a series
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mate — a partner
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. toast — bread
  14. mate — to breed
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. tube — the underground
  19. mate — a friend
  20. tube — a container
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mug — to rob
  23. content — the amount
  24. rash — hasty

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