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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: bowl · roll · leaves · craft · suit · mouse · season · snap

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. roll — a list
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. snap — to click
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. season — of the year
  12. craft — a skill
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. craft — boats
  18. roll — a cake
  19. suit — to fit
  20. season — in sport
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. suit — clothes
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bowl — a football final

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