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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: fall · mug · tube · safe · bulb · mine · rock · squash

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. fall — the season
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. rock — a stone
  6. tube — the underground
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. squash — the sport
  9. tube — a container
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. fall — to drop
  12. squash — to crush
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mine — for digging
  16. bulb — for light
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. mug — to rob
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rock — music
  23. fall — to drop
  24. mug — a face

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