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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: season · safe · suit · fan · net · lie · prune · rock

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. rock — music
  3. prune — to trim
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. net — for catching
  6. lie — to recline
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. suit — in cards
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. season — in sport
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. season — of the year
  16. rock — a stone
  17. prune — to trim
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. suit — clothes
  21. net — in sport
  22. suit — to fit
  23. net — after costs
  24. rock — to move gently

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