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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: staff · safe · leaves · net · current · fine · fall · suit

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. suit — to fit
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. net — after costs
  7. current — happening now
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — a stick
  10. suit — clothes
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. current — electric
  13. fall — to drop
  14. fall — the season
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fall — to drop
  17. staff — employees
  18. suit — in cards
  19. current — of water
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. net — for catching
  22. net — in sport
  23. fine — all right
  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