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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: season · stand · ruler · march · jam · lash · cabinet · spell

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. spell — magic
  3. spell — a short time
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. season — of the year
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. stand — to bear
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. spell — letters
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. march — the month
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. season — in sport
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. march — the month

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