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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: spell · lean · branch · roll · season · mouse · suit · rest

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. lean — thin
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a cake
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. season — of the year
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rest — what's left
  10. spell — letters
  11. spell — magic
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. roll — a list
  15. suit — in cards
  16. season — in sport
  17. lean — to bend
  18. branch — a division
  19. rest — a break
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. suit — to fit
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. rest — what's left

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