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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.

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: mate · sharp · safe · root · bear · prune · suit · date

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. safe — a strongbox
  2. suit — to fit
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. root — of a word
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. suit — in cards
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. root — of a plant
  10. mate — a partner
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. suit — clothes
  14. prune — to trim
  15. mate — to breed
  16. sharp — clever
  17. bear — the animal
  18. root — the cause
  19. bear — the animal
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. mate — a friend
  22. date — the fruit
  23. safe — out of danger
  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