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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.

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Word bank
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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. spell — letters
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. branch — a division
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. drill — army training
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. ball — a dance
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. drill — a practice
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. drill — the tool
  17. spell — magic
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. chair — a leader
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. chair — a professorship

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