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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: toast · can · season · safe · spell · stock · roll · straw

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. toast — bread
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. roll — a list
  7. stock — shares
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. spell — letters
  10. can — a tin
  11. stock — goods
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. can — a tin
  16. season — in sport
  17. spell — magic
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. roll — a cake
  22. can — to be able to
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. season — of the year

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