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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.

Make a worksheet

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: can · season · safe · lash · game · swing · pit · wax

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. can — a tin
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. pit — in a race
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. wax — to grow
  11. season — in sport
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. season — of the year
  14. pit — a hole
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. game — wild animals
  18. game — a match
  19. swing — in golf
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. swing — to play on
  24. lash — an eyelash

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