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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: bulb · press · mine · perch · rash · safe · spell · craft

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bulb — for light
  3. spell — a short time
  4. press — newspapers
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. perch — the fish
  10. rash — hasty
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. craft — a skill
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. press — a publisher
  15. mine — for digging
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bulb — for light
  18. press — to push
  19. craft — boats
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. spell — letters
  22. spell — magic
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. mine — an explosive

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