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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 120 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: leaves · can · staff · spell · mine · bowl · ruler · rest

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mine — for digging
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rest — what's left
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. staff — employees
  8. spell — letters
  9. rest — a break
  10. spell — magic
  11. rest — what's left
  12. staff — a stick
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. staff — employees
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. spell — a short time
  24. bowl — to roll

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