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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 · band · perch · lean · bore · date · bay · mark

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. date — the fruit
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. bore — to drill
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mark — a trace
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. perch — the fish
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. lean — to bend
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bore — to tire
  18. band — a ring
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. band — a music group
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. lean — thin
  24. safe — a strongbox

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