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

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. rash — hasty
  4. spell — a short time
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. spell — magic
  8. roll — a list
  9. rash — a series
  10. season — in sport
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. season — of the year
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. roll — a cake
  19. pass — a permit
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. spell — letters

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