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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: racket · temple · safe · club · date · leaves · sharp · saw

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. sharp — clever
  6. club — a group
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. saw — the tool
  10. date — the fruit
  11. club — for golf
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. saw — the tool
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. club — for dancing
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. temple — side of the head

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