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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rash · wake · prune · bank · jam · cue · suit · spell

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. suit — to fit
  3. prune — to trim
  4. prune — to trim
  5. spell — magic
  6. suit — in cards
  7. cue — for pool
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. bank — for money
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. rash — a series
  13. bank — of a river
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. wake — a trail
  16. spell — a short time
  17. cue — a hint
  18. spell — letters
  19. suit — clothes
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bank — for money
  22. rash — hasty
  23. cue — a signal
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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