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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. season — of the year
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. board — a committee
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. season — in sport
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cell — in biology
  18. deal — to handle
  19. board — to get on
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. cell — a phone
  23. foot — a measure
  24. season — to add flavour

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