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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: safe · season · ball · suit · bear · cabinet · board · roll

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. season — of the year
  3. ball — a dance
  4. ball — a great time
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. season — in sport
  7. suit — in cards
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. suit — clothes
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. roll — a cake
  12. suit — to fit
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. board — a committee
  15. bear — the animal
  16. roll — a list
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. board — to get on
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. roll — on a roll

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