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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: jam · safe · rock · mate · staff · band · can · date

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. rock — a stone
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. staff — employees
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. rock — music
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. band — a ring
  14. mate — a friend
  15. staff — a stick
  16. mate — a partner
  17. band — a music group
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. mate — to breed
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. staff — employees

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