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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.

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: suit · rest · wake · spring · toast · season · land · safe

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. rest — what's left
  3. toast — bread
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. spring — of water
  6. season — in sport
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. spring — the season
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. land — to come down
  13. land — a country
  14. suit — clothes
  15. land — ground
  16. wake — a trail
  17. spring — a coil
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. suit — in cards
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — a break
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. season — of the year

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