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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
468
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: spell · mug · dip · scale · plane · branch · toast · leaves

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. scale — size or range
  5. spell — a short time
  6. branch — a division
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. spell — letters
  9. mug — a cup
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. spell — magic
  13. dip — to sink
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. mug — to rob
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. scale — in music
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. plane — a tool
  24. mug — a face

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