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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: hide · stem · fine · bowl · leaves · season · drill · wax

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. stem — to come from
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. fine — all right
  11. season — of the year
  12. drill — army training
  13. wax — to grow
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bowl — to 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