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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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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: prune · pit · safe · present · season · stand · charge · rush

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. charge — in control
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. prune — to trim
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. present — the time now
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. season — of the year
  11. season — in sport
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. prune — to trim
  14. present — a gift
  15. charge — electricity
  16. stand — to bear
  17. present — there
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. pit — a hole
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. charge — a price
  24. stand — on your feet

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