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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: safe · mate · arm · jam · cell · current · root · season

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  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. cell — in biology
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. root — of a word
  5. mate — a partner
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mate — to breed
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. season — of the year
  11. season — in sport
  12. root — the cause
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. current — happening now
  19. root — of a plant
  20. current — of water
  21. cell — a phone
  22. current — electric
  23. season — to add flavour
  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