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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: safe · lie · season · current · last · coach · bulb · rush

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. current — of water
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. season — in sport
  6. bulb — for light
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. last — final
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. current — happening now
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. last — finally
  15. last — to go on
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. current — electric
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. lie — to recline
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. season — of the year

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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