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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 116 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: march · wake · bowl · spell · bay · ruler · ball · safe

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. ball — a great time
  6. spell — magic
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. march — the month
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. march — the month
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. spell — letters
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. march — music
  20. spell — a short time
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ball — a dance
  23. wake — a trail
  24. safe — out of danger

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