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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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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: temple · scale · toast · hand · roll · season · wake · wave

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. scale — in music
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. roll — a cake
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. wake — a trail
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. scale — size or range
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. hand — help
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. toast — bread
  18. season — in sport
  19. roll — a list
  20. hand — in cards
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. season — of the year
  24. roll — on a roll

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