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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: last · safe · mark · dip · spell · ruler · rest · wake

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. rest — what's left
  5. spell — a short time
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. spell — magic
  8. last — to go on
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. last — final
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. spell — letters
  14. rest — a break
  15. mark — a trace
  16. dip — to sink
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wake — a trail
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. rest — what's left
  23. last — finally
  24. mark — a grade

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