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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: cabinet · spell · prune · ground · season · chip · craft · safe

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. ground — a position
  4. craft — a skill
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. spell — letters
  8. spell — magic
  9. season — of the year
  10. craft — boats
  11. prune — to trim
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. ground — crushed
  15. prune — to trim
  16. chip — for betting
  17. chip — to eat
  18. ground — the earth
  19. season — in sport
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. spell — a short time
  24. safe — out of danger

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