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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bay · safe · jam · fine · last · lie · rash · march

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. lie — to recline
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. last — final
  7. march — music
  8. march — the month
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. rash — a series
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. last — to go on
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fine — all right
  17. rash — hasty
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. march — the month
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. fine — high quality
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. last — finally

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