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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: face · safe · season · jam · craft · fan · fork · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. fork — in a road
  5. face — to confront
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. season — in sport
  14. craft — a skill
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. face — to point toward
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. face — part of the head
  21. season — of the year
  22. craft — boats
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. craft — a handicraft

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