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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. squash — to crush
  3. spell — magic
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. spell — letters
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. bank — for money
  8. pass — a permit
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. spell — a short time
  14. bank — of a river
  15. suit — clothes
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bank — for money
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. squash — the sport
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. suit — to fit

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