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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: jam · safe · mug · season · board · hand · bay · hide

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. hand — help
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. mug — a cup
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. board — a committee
  10. season — of the year
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. mug — to rob
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. board — to get on
  18. hand — in cards
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. season — in sport
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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