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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: fall · safe · season · jam · fork · lie · cue · squash

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. fork — in a road
  3. squash — to crush
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. cue — a hint
  6. lie — to recline
  7. fall — to drop
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. squash — the sport
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. season — in sport
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. cue — a signal
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cue — for pool
  22. season — of the year
  23. fall — the season
  24. fall — to drop

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