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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.

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: spell · safe · ball · wake · perch · calf · season · vault

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. spell — a short time
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. season — of the year
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. ball — a dance
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. wake — a trail
  10. vault — a safe
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. ball — a great time
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. spell — magic
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. perch — the fish
  22. spell — letters
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. perch — for a bird

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