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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.

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: mate · bank · season · key · safe · straw · patient · hide

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. mate — to breed
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bank — for money
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — in sport
  9. mate — a friend
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. key — in music
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. key — the most important part
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. bank — for money
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. bank — of a river
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mate — a partner
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. key — for a lock

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