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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 120 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: prune · current · chair · mug · temple · fork · safe · season

  1. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a leader
  2. prune — to trim
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fork — in a road
  5. mug — a cup
  6. season — of the year
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. season — in sport
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. current — of water
  17. mug — a face
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. prune — to trim
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. current — happening now
  22. current — electric
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. mug — to rob

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