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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. date — the fruit
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. fall — to drop
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. pitch — completely
  9. fall — to drop
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. fall — the season
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — hurry
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. vault — a safe
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bark — to shout
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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