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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bank — for money
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. suit — clothes
  5. ground — a position
  6. pound — a weight
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cue — for pool
  9. spell — letters
  10. bank — of a river
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. craft — a skill
  13. cue — a hint
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. suit — in cards
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. spell — magic
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. ground — the earth
  21. suit — to fit
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bank — for money
  24. craft — boats

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