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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bowl · saw · rush · leaves · pass · fine · wind · squash

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. squash — the sport
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pass — a permit
  5. wind — moving air
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. squash — to crush
  8. fine — high quality
  9. saw — the tool
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. wind — to turn a key
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. wind — moving air
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. saw — the tool
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. fine — all right

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