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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: rock · pit · safe · cabinet · wave · swing · game · date

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. date — the fruit
  4. swing — music
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. game — a match
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. game — wild animals
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. pit — in a race
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. rock — a stone
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. swing — to play on
  23. rock — music
  24. pit — a hole

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