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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 120 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: wake · ground · staff · suit · safe · wave · rock · bulb

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. bulb — for light
  4. ground — crushed
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. suit — clothes
  7. staff — employees
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — for light
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. ground — the earth
  13. staff — a stick
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. suit — to fit
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rock — a stone
  18. wake — a trail
  19. ground — a position
  20. staff — employees
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. suit — in cards

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