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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: safe · board · craft · season · leaves · mate · bowl · mine

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. season — of the year
  3. mate — a friend
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. season — in sport
  9. mate — a partner
  10. mine — for digging
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. board — a committee
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. mate — to breed
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. craft — a skill
  22. board — to get on
  23. craft — boats
  24. craft — a handicraft

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