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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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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: safe · present · date · dip · board · arm · snap · swing

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. board — to get on
  7. swing — in golf
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. present — there
  12. board — a committee
  13. swing — to play on
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. date — the fruit
  16. present — a gift
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. dip — to sink
  19. present — the time now
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. snap — to click
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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