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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
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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: staff · net · bat · fan · fine · coach · season · safe

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. season — in sport
  3. fine — all right
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. staff — a stick
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. net — after costs
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. staff — employees
  10. fine — high quality
  11. net — for catching
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. net — in sport
  14. staff — employees
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bat — the animal
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. season — of the year
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bat — for baseball

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