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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. court — for sport
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. cue — a hint
  6. craft — boats
  7. rash — hasty
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. court — of a king
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. court — of law
  12. pitch — completely
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. season — in sport
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. cue — a signal
  17. rash — a series
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. cue — for pool
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. craft — a skill

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