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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.

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 · lie · ball · mate · deal · charge · spell · toast

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. roll — a cake
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. mate — a friend
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. ball — a great time
  8. mate — a partner
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. roll — a list
  11. deal — to handle
  12. ball — a dance
  13. spell — magic
  14. mate — to breed
  15. charge — a price
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. toast — bread
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. spell — a short time
  21. charge — electricity
  22. lie — to recline
  23. spell — letters
  24. charge — in control

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