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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: bay · current · last · safe · date · lash · patient · perch

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. current — of water
  4. current — electric
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. last — finally
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. last — to go on
  13. last — final
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. perch — the fish
  19. date — the fruit
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. current — happening now
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. patient — a sick person

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