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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · rash · shower · spell · bowl · date · bear · stand

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. shower — to wash
  6. shower — rain
  7. spell — magic
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. date — the fruit
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. stand — to bear
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rash — a series
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. bear — the animal
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. spell — letters
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. rash — hasty
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. safe — out of danger

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