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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. season — of the year
  3. roll — a list
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. fine — high quality
  7. toast — bread
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. season — in sport
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. fine — all right
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. roll — a cake
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. branch — a division
  20. wake — a trail
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. mark — a grade
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. mark — a trace

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