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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.

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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 · bowl · deal · wake · date · stand · suit · season

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. suit — in cards
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. deal — to handle
  8. date — the fruit
  9. wake — a trail
  10. roll — a cake
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. season — in sport
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. season — of the year
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. suit — to fit
  22. roll — a list
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. wake — before a funeral

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