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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.

Make a worksheet

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: scale · safe · saw · arm · season · snap · plane · chair

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. plane — a tool
  3. snap — to click
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. saw — the tool
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. scale — in music
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. chair — a leader
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. saw — the tool
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. season — of the year
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. scale — size or range
  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