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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: arm · lie · bore · sharp · safe · date · foot · ground

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. date — the fruit
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. ground — the earth
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. ground — a position
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. foot — a measure
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bore — to drill
  19. ground — crushed
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. bore — to tire
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. foot — the bottom

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