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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: pass · net · rash · coach · safe · date · kick · rush

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. date — the fruit
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. kick — in football
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. net — in sport
  11. pass — a permit
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. rush — hurry
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rash — hasty
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rash — a series
  22. net — after costs
  23. net — for catching
  24. coach — a trainer

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