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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: race · date · safe · squash · foot · board · racket · can

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. can — a tin
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. squash — to crush
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. can — to be able to
  7. date — the fruit
  8. board — to get on
  9. foot — a measure
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. board — a committee
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. race — a contest
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. squash — the sport
  23. can — a tin
  24. race — humankind

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