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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: fork · mate · net · safe · pit · rush · ruler · wave

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. net — after costs
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. rush — hurry
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mate — a partner
  12. pit — in a race
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. fork — in a road
  15. mate — to breed
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. mate — a friend
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. pit — a hole
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. net — in sport
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. ruler — a monarch

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