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

Word bank: toast · club · bass · saw · safe · leaves · spell · pit

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. club — for dancing
  4. pit — in a race
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. toast — bread
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. club — a group
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. spell — a short time
  12. spell — letters
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pit — a hole
  16. bass — the fish
  17. saw — the tool
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. club — for golf
  22. spell — magic
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bass — low music

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