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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 116 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: coach · shower · lie · leaves · craft · season · safe · mark

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. mark — a trace
  3. lie — to recline
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. season — of the year
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. shower — rain
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mark — a grade
  20. craft — boats
  21. craft — a skill
  22. shower — to wash
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. leaves — to go away

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