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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: season · race · current · firm · mouse · fan · cap · safe

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. cap — of ice
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. current — happening now
  6. season — of the year
  7. race — humankind
  8. cap — a hat
  9. firm — decided
  10. race — a contest
  11. race — the arms race
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. current — of water
  15. season — in sport
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. firm — steady
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. current — electric
  23. cap — a lid
  24. mouse — for a computer

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