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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: wake · game · dip · safe · sharp · bay · toast · date

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. date — the fruit
  4. dip — to sink
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. game — wild animals
  15. sharp — clever
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. toast — bread
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. wake — a trail
  24. game — a match

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