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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. pitch — completely
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rush — hurry
  5. spell — a short time
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. suit — to fit
  8. game — wild animals
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. spell — letters
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. suit — in cards
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rash — hasty
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. game — a match
  18. suit — clothes
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. spell — magic
  24. foot — a measure

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