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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: face · snap · march · rash · safe · bay · date · plane

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. face — part of the head
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. march — music
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. march — the month
  11. snap — to click
  12. rash — hasty
  13. date — the fruit
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. plane — a tool
  19. face — to point toward
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. face — to confront
  23. rash — a series
  24. date — on the calendar

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