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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · season · bulb · ball · board · branch · roll · rock

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. rock — a stone
  3. season — in sport
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. rock — music
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. saw — the tool
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bulb — for light
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. ball — a dance
  12. board — a committee
  13. ball — a great time
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. roll — a list
  16. branch — a division
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. season — of the year
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. roll — a cake
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. saw — the tool
  23. board — to get on
  24. bulb — for light

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