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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. key — for a lock
  4. stand — to bear
  5. key — in music
  6. bound — obliged
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. club — a group
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bound — tied together
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. wake — a trail
  17. key — the most important part
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. club — for golf
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. bound — certain
  22. club — for dancing
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lash — to lash out

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