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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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Word bank
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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: lash · season · safe · bore · game · firm

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. season — in sport
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. game — wild animals
  6. firm — steady
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. firm — decided
  10. bore — to tire
  11. game — a match
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. bore — to drill
  17. firm — a company
  18. lash — to lash out

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