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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.

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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: fine · stand · season · safe · chair · mark · spring · mug

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. fine — high quality
  5. stand — to bear
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. season — in sport
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. fine — all right
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mark — a grade
  12. chair — a leader
  13. mug — a face
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spring — of water
  18. mug — to rob
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. spring — a coil
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. mark — a trace
  24. spring — the season

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