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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
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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: dip · leaves · bark · face · prune · mate · jam · safe

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. face — to confront
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. mate — a partner
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. bark — to shout
  17. face — to point toward
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. prune — to trim
  20. dip — to sink
  21. mate — to breed
  22. face — part of the head
  23. prune — to trim
  24. jam — a tight spot

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