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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: nail · safe · sharp · charge · firm · pass · spring · season

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. spring — the season
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. firm — steady
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. firm — a company
  13. charge — a price
  14. spring — of water
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. season — in sport
  18. spring — a coil
  19. season — of the year
  20. charge — in control
  21. firm — decided
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pass — a permit
  24. charge — electricity

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