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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.

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: racket · mate · temple · current · lash · net · date · safe

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. mate — a friend
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mate — to breed
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. net — for catching
  13. current — happening now
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. net — after costs
  16. net — in sport
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. mate — a partner
  19. date — the fruit
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. current — electric
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. current — of water

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