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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: safe · mark · arm · bore · bear · bowl · bass · date

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. date — the fruit
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bear — the animal
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. bear — the animal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bass — low music
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bore — to drill
  24. mark — a trace

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