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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: pit · leaves · safe · game · temple · wake · date · rest

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. wake — a trail
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rest — what's left
  10. rest — what's left
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. game — wild animals
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. pit — a hole
  17. rest — a break
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. game — a match
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. date — the fruit
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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