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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. stand — to bear
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. saw — the tool
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. branch — a division
  8. game — a match
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. season — of the year
  12. game — wild animals
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. saw — the tool
  21. season — in sport
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. game — a kind of play

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