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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
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: stick · fan · stem · hide · chair · wax · safe · season

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. season — of the year
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. wax — to grow
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. season — in sport
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stem — to come from
  23. chair — a leader
  24. chair — a professorship

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