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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: bowl · safe · roll · wax · branch · toast · squash · deal

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. squash — to crush
  4. roll — a list
  5. deal — to handle
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. squash — the sport
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. toast — bread
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. branch — a division
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wax — to grow
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. roll — a cake
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. deal — a big deal

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