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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: roll · season · lash · track · band · tube · wake · suit

  1. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. season — in sport
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. track — to keep track
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. track — a path
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. tube — the underground
  10. suit — in cards
  11. track — a song
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. season — of the year
  14. band — a music group
  15. suit — to fit
  16. roll — a list
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. tube — a container
  19. wake — a trail
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. suit — clothes
  23. roll — a cake
  24. wake — before a funeral

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