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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: mug · safe · pass · degree · bulb · saw · fall · spell

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. fall — the season
  4. spell — magic
  5. bulb — for light
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. fall — to drop
  8. mug — to rob
  9. degree — an amount
  10. mug — a cup
  11. pass — a permit
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — the tool
  14. degree — temperature
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spell — a short time
  18. bulb — for light
  19. spell — letters
  20. degree — from a university
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fall — to drop
  23. mug — a face
  24. pass — to succeed

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