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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: leaves · toast · rock · ball · craft · jam · object · spell

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. spell — letters
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. ball — a dance
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a great time
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. spell — a short time
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. craft — a skill
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. object — a thing
  16. rock — a stone
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. rock — music
  19. toast — bread
  20. spell — magic
  21. object — to protest
  22. craft — boats
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. rock — to move gently

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