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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cap — a lid
  3. bank — of a river
  4. lie — to recline
  5. cap — a hat
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. date — the fruit
  11. staff — employees
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. cap — of ice
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. pit — in a race
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bank — for money
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pit — a hole
  21. staff — employees
  22. bank — for money
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. staff — a stick

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