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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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. shower — rain
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. deal — to handle
  6. ball — a dance
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. plane — a tool
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bound — obliged
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. wind — moving air
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. shower — to wash
  18. bound — certain
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. bound — tied together
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. wind — moving air

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