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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: sharp · date · stick · bulb · ball · rash · safe · bowl

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bulb — for light
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ball — a dance
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. sharp — clever
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ball — a great time
  21. rash — a series
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bowl — a dish

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