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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: bay · content · rush · mark · date · rock · safe · lash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. date — the fruit
  3. content — happy
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. rock — a stone
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. rock — music
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. mark — a trace
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mark — a grade
  21. content — the amount
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — 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