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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: saw · pop · leaves · season · bowl · rash · mate · safe

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. rash — hasty
  3. mate — a partner
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. season — in sport
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. season — of the year
  12. pop — soda
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. rash — a series
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pop — music
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. pop — to visit
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mate — to breed
  24. mate — a friend

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