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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  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. mate — to breed
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. cap — of ice
  4. mate — a friend
  5. season — in sport
  6. cap — a lid
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. date — the fruit
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cap — a hat
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. prune — to trim
  14. season — of the year
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. vault — a safe
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. prune — to trim
  22. mate — a partner
  23. season — to add flavour
  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