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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: season · safe · cue · foot · face · jam · fine · mine

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. season — in sport
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. fine — high quality
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. face — to point toward
  9. season — of the year
  10. cue — a signal
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. face — part of the head
  13. face — to confront
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. cue — a hint
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cue — for pool
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. foot — a measure
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mine — for digging
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. season — to add flavour

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