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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
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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: lie · date · spell · deal · mine · can · pass · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. can — to be able to
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pass — a permit
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mine — for digging
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. spell — magic
  14. can — a tin
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — a short time
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. deal — to handle
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. date — the fruit
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. can — a tin
  23. lie — to recline
  24. deal — a big deal

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