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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. vault — a safe
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. branch — a division
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. roll — a cake
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. bore — to tire
  16. roll — a list
  17. bore — to drill
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. season — in sport
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. toast — bread

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