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

Word bank: deal · safe · rock · stem · spell · ruler · wake · toast

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. spell — magic
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. rock — music
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. spell — letters
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. deal — to handle
  16. wake — a trail
  17. rock — a stone
  18. stem — to come from
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. spell — a short time
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. toast — bread
  24. ruler — for measuring

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