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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. spell — letters
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. toast — bread
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — music
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. spell — a short time
  18. roll — a list
  19. branch — a division
  20. roll — a cake
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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