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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
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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 · game · key · bear · stock · lean · can · safe

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. stock — shares
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. game — a match
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. lean — thin
  9. bear — the animal
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bear — the animal
  12. key — for a lock
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. game — wild animals
  15. key — the most important part
  16. lean — to bend
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. key — in music
  19. season — in sport
  20. can — a tin
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. season — of the year
  23. can — a tin
  24. stock — goods

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