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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.

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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: patient · scale · rest · lash · spell · leaves · season · can

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. scale — size or range
  3. can — a tin
  4. spell — a short time
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. can — to be able to
  9. rest — a break
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. spell — magic
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. season — in sport
  17. can — a tin
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rest — what's left
  20. season — of the year
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. spell — letters
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. scale — in music

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