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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. hand — in cards
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. hand — help
  5. season — of the year
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. charge — electricity
  11. season — in sport
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. charge — in control
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. deal — to handle
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. charge — a price

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