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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The water is too ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. suit — to fit
  3. cold — the Cold War
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. cold — not warm
  6. suit — clothes
  7. toast — bread
  8. suit — in cards
  9. mark — a grade
  10. spell — magic
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. firm — steady
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. wake — a trail
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. firm — decided
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. cold — an illness
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. spell — letters
  22. firm — a company
  23. mark — a trace
  24. wake — before a funeral

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