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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
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: bass · lie · leaves · date · rock · calf · safe · spring

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. date — the fruit
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bass — low music
  7. spring — the season
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. spring — a coil
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rock — a stone
  15. rock — music
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. spring — of water
  19. bass — the fish
  20. lie — to recline
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. bass — the instrument

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