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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 120 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: present · cabinet · safe · board · can · mate · leaves · wind

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. wind — moving air
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. present — a gift
  6. wind — moving air
  7. board — a committee
  8. can — a tin
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. can — to be able to
  13. present — the time now
  14. mate — a partner
  15. mate — a friend
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. mate — to breed
  18. present — there
  19. wind — to turn a key
  20. board — to get on
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. can — a tin

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