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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: scale · rock · safe · stand · leaves · dip · spell · spring

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. spring — the season
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. spell — magic
  6. spring — a coil
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. stand — to bear
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. scale — size or range
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. rock — a stone
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. dip — to sink
  15. spell — letters
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rock — music
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. scale — in music
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. spell — a short time

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