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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 120 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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. ball — a dance
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. suit — in cards
  7. deal — to handle
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. rush — hurry
  15. ball — a great time
  16. capital — money
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. capital — a city
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — to fit
  24. coach — a trainer

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