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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: band · safe · toast · pop · fine · lash · roll · mate

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. band — a music group
  4. toast — bread
  5. pop — to visit
  6. mate — a friend
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. pop — music
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. roll — a cake
  12. fine — all right
  13. band — a ring
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mate — to breed
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. roll — a list
  21. pop — soda
  22. mate — a partner
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lash — to lash out

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