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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: suit · board · safe · cabinet · fan · swing · leaves · spell

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. board — to get on
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. suit — clothes
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. spell — letters
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — magic
  14. swing — in golf
  15. swing — to play on
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. swing — music
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. board — a committee
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. suit — in cards
  24. leaves — of a tree

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