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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: sharp · field · mate · can · date · rush · ball · safe

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. mate — to breed
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. can — a tin
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mate — a friend
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mate — a partner
  12. rush — hurry
  13. sharp — clever
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. field — a subject
  19. can — a tin
  20. field — farmland
  21. ball — a dance
  22. date — the fruit
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. field — for sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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