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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: plane · safe · band · bulb · season · lash · cue · suit

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. season — in sport
  3. suit — clothes
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bulb — for light
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. cue — for pool
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. band — a music group
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. cue — a signal
  15. plane — a tool
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. cue — a hint
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. season — of the year
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. band — a ring
  22. bulb — for light
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. suit — in cards

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