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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: safe · pass · date · ball · spell · rock · stand · rush

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. date — the fruit
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. spell — a short time
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. spell — magic
  7. rock — music
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. ball — a great time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. ball — a dance
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. rock — a stone
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. rush — hurry
  20. spell — letters
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. stand — to bear

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