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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: squash · mug · season · wave · rock · fall · temple · trunk

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. mug — to rob
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. fall — the season
  9. mug — a cup
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. mug — a face
  12. squash — to crush
  13. fall — to drop
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. rock — music
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. season — of the year
  22. squash — the sport
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fall — to drop

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