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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: band · spell · can · patient · safe · season · rock · foot

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. rock — music
  3. band — a ring
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. foot — a measure
  6. rock — a stone
  7. spell — a short time
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. band — a music group
  16. can — a tin
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. spell — magic
  19. can — to be able to
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. season — in sport
  22. spell — letters
  23. can — a tin
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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