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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 116 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.

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: lash · wave · ball · safe · bat · mine · plane · pop

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. plane — a tool
  6. bat — the animal
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. ball — a dance
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pop — music
  13. mine — for digging
  14. ball — a great time
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pop — soda
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. pop — to visit
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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