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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 · safe · rest · date · sharp · shower · pit · ball

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. dip — to sink
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. sharp — clever
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. shower — rain
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. ball — a great time
  10. shower — to wash
  11. rest — what's left
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. date — the fruit
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rest — what's left
  19. ball — a dance
  20. pit — a hole
  21. rest — a break
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pit — in a race

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