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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 · fall · bowl · rash · rush · spell · mark · rock

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. spell — a short time
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. mark — a grade
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — hurry
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. fall — the season
  14. rash — a series
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. rash — hasty
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. fall — to drop
  21. rock — music
  22. fall — to drop
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. spell — letters

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