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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 120 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 · row · capital · ground · rash · mate · calf · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. fine — high quality
  6. mate — to breed
  7. row — to paddle
  8. rash — hasty
  9. capital — a city
  10. row — a line
  11. rash — a series
  12. ground — crushed
  13. mate — a partner
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. ground — a position
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. mate — a friend
  21. capital — money
  22. fine — all right
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. ground — the earth

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