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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. spell — a short time
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. plane — a tool
  7. date — the fruit
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. present — a gift
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. spell — magic
  14. pit — in a race
  15. suit — to fit
  16. present — there
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pit — a hole
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. suit — clothes
  22. spell — letters
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. present — the time now

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