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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: roll · temple · wake · arm · mine · stand · bear · spell

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. spell — magic
  6. spell — a short time
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bear — the animal
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. stand — to bear
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. spell — letters
  19. roll — a list
  20. mine — for digging
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bear — the animal
  24. wake — a trail

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