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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: dip · stand · mark · board · safe · rush · season · fork

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. board — to get on
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. stand — to bear
  5. fork — in a road
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. season — of the year
  10. board — a committee
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. season — in sport
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. mark — a grade
  18. dip — to sink
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. mark — a trace
  21. rush — hurry
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. fork — a garden tool

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