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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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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: stick · season · present · deal · roll · toast · mark · arm

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. present — there
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. roll — a cake
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. mark — a trace
  11. present — a gift
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. mark — a grade
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. season — in sport
  16. toast — bread
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. present — the time now
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. deal — to handle
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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