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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: toast · rush · kick · season · mate · mouse · safe · lean

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. season — in sport
  3. mate — a friend
  4. mate — to breed
  5. season — of the year
  6. lean — thin
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. kick — in football
  15. rush — hurry
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. lean — to bend
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. toast — bread
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. mouse — the animal

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