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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: rest · mark · calf · rush · tear · racket · date · safe

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. rest — a break
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mark — a grade
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. tear — from crying
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. tear — to rip
  17. rush — hurry
  18. tear — from crying
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rest — what's left
  21. date — the fruit
  22. mark — a trace
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. rest — what's left

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