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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: lash · drill · wave · cap · safe · mouse · ruler · date

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. cap — a lid
  3. cap — of ice
  4. drill — army training
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. cap — a hat
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. drill — the tool
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. drill — a practice

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