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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.

Make a worksheet

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: root · bay · season · last · march · toast · pitcher · roll

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. root — the cause
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. march — music
  5. march — the month
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. season — in sport
  8. roll — a cake
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. last — finally
  11. last — final
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. root — of a word
  14. root — of a plant
  15. toast — bread
  16. march — the month
  17. season — of the year
  18. last — to go on
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. roll — a list
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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