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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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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: bay · mate · rock · safe · bowl · toast · leaves · bear

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. toast — bread
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. mate — a partner
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bear — the animal
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mate — a friend
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. mate — to breed
  17. rock — music
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. rock — a stone
  24. safe — out of danger

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