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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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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: ruler · bank · season · fork · saw · bay · spell · lash

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. saw — the tool
  3. spell — magic
  4. spell — letters
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bank — for money
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. spell — a short time
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. season — of the year
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. season — in sport
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. fork — in a road
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. bank — for money

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