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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  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. temple — a place of worship
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. rock — a stone
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. root — of a word
  6. spell — magic
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. root — of a plant
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. bank — of a river
  12. rock — music
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. bank — for money
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. bank — for money
  17. spell — a short time
  18. root — the cause
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. spell — letters
  23. mouse — the animal
  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