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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: net · track · bank · spell · cell · deal · safe · season

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. season — in sport
  3. deal — to handle
  4. cell — a phone
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. cell — in biology
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. bank — for money
  11. track — to keep track
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. track — a path
  14. spell — a short time
  15. season — of the year
  16. net — for catching
  17. bank — for money
  18. spell — magic
  19. spell — letters
  20. bank — of a river
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. track — a song
  24. net — after costs

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