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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: row · rock · mark · pass · bowl · toast · safe · tear

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. toast — bread
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — music
  5. mark — a grade
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. rock — a stone
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. row — a line
  14. row — to paddle
  15. pass — a permit
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. tear — from crying
  18. mark — a trace
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. tear — from crying
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. tear — to rip

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