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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mouse · date · roll · root · safe · land · can · temple

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. date — the fruit
  4. land — ground
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. land — to come down
  7. can — a tin
  8. land — a country
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. root — of a word
  12. root — the cause
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. root — of a plant
  15. roll — a list
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. can — to be able to
  24. safe — out of danger

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