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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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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: bear · cap · saw · wake · staff · date · sharp · safe

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. staff — employees
  4. cap — of ice
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bear — the animal
  7. staff — a stick
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. staff — employees
  11. cap — a lid
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. cap — a hat
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. saw — the tool
  17. wake — a trail
  18. bear — the animal
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. saw — the tool
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. sharp — clever
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. bear — to put up with

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