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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: safe · bark · spell · stick · rush · dip · fan · fine

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. dip — to sink
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. spell — letters
  12. fine — high quality
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. fine — all right
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. spell — magic
  23. bark — to shout
  24. rush — to hurry

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