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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. spell — magic
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. spell — a short time
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. dip — to sink
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. spring — the season
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. date — the fruit
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. shower — to wash
  18. spring — of water
  19. spell — letters
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. shower — rain
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. dip — to dunk

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