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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 116 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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. staff — a stick
  3. present — a gift
  4. mate — a friend
  5. board — to get on
  6. saw — the tool
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. board — a committee
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. staff — employees
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mate — a partner
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. staff — employees
  17. present — the time now
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mate — to breed
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. present — there
  24. safe — out of danger

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