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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: safe · fan · rash · kick · file · net · firm · season

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. net — for catching
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. kick — in football
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rash — hasty
  12. firm — steady
  13. file — a document
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. season — in sport
  16. file — a tool
  17. firm — a company
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — after costs
  20. firm — decided
  21. rash — a series
  22. season — of the year
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. safe — out of danger

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