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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: bowl · pitcher · can · press · rock · date · season · safe

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. rock — music
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. press — newspapers
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rock — a stone
  10. can — to be able to
  11. season — in sport
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. date — the fruit
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. press — to push
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. can — a tin
  22. press — a publisher
  23. can — a tin
  24. bowl — a dish

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