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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: safe · toast · date · leaves · can · nail · hide · march

  1. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. can — a tin
  4. march — the month
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. can — to be able to
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. march — music
  17. toast — bread
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. date — the fruit
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. can — a tin
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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