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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: safe · bass · fan · date · sharp · bowl · bear · arm

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bass — low music
  5. date — the fruit
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. bass — the fish
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bass — the instrument

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