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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 120 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: pass · key · safe · bulb · fan · cold · season · hand

  1. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The water is too ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. cold — the Cold War
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. cold — not warm
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. key — for a lock
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. season — of the year
  11. key — in music
  12. cold — an illness
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. key — the most important part
  15. pass — a permit
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. hand — in cards
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. bulb — for light
  22. season — in sport
  23. bulb — for light
  24. hand — help

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