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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: pass · content · mouse · safe · foot · rule · rock · date

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. rock — a stone
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rock — music
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. date — the fruit
  17. content — happy
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rule — government
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. rule — a law
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. foot — a measure
  24. safe — a strongbox

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