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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.

Make a worksheet

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: season · key · staff · safe · hide · stand · field · lie

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. staff — a stick
  3. key — for a lock
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. stand — to bear
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — to recline
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. field — a subject
  11. field — for sport
  12. key — the most important part
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. season — of the year
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. field — farmland
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. key — in music
  22. season — in sport
  23. staff — employees
  24. stand — for spectators

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