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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. branch — a division
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. snap — to click
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. dip — to sink
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. toast — bread
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. season — in sport

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