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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. rash — a series
  3. date — the fruit
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stock — shares
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. can — a tin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. vault — a safe
  18. stock — goods
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. can — a tin

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