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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: roll · temple · mouse · trunk · spell · field · wave · cabinet

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. roll — a cake
  12. spell — a short time
  13. field — a subject
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. spell — letters
  17. spell — magic
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. field — for sport
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. roll — a list
  23. field — farmland
  24. cabinet — ministers

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