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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: safe · bear · bass · mate · lash · rock · mark · game

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. mark — a trace
  3. rock — music
  4. bass — low music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. game — a match
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mate — to breed
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bear — the animal
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bear — the animal
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. mate — a partner
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bass — the fish
  22. mate — a friend
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. lash — an eyelash

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