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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. pop — soda
  3. cue — a signal
  4. object — a thing
  5. spell — a short time
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. cue — for pool
  8. content — the amount
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. spell — magic
  12. spring — a coil
  13. suit — in cards
  14. object — an aim
  15. object — to protest
  16. spring — the season
  17. cue — a hint
  18. spell — letters
  19. content — happy
  20. pop — to visit
  21. pop — music
  22. suit — clothes
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. spring — of water

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