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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: pitcher · spring · safe · perch · season · bay · mark · lash

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. mark — a trace
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. season — in sport
  8. spring — of water
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. spring — the season
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. spring — a coil
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. season — of the year
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. season — to add flavour

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