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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: ground · safe · season · jam · mug · wave · roll · wake

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. season — of the year
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. season — in sport
  8. roll — a list
  9. ground — the earth
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mug — a face
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. mug — a cup
  19. ground — a position
  20. roll — a cake
  21. ground — crushed
  22. wake — a trail
  23. mug — to rob
  24. roll — on a roll

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