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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: spell · craft · jam · spring · key · rest · pass · roll

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. roll — a cake
  3. roll — a list
  4. key — in music
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pass — a permit
  7. spring — the season
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. key — the most important part
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — a short time
  14. rest — what's left
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. key — for a lock
  19. craft — boats
  20. spring — of water
  21. spell — letters
  22. spring — a coil
  23. craft — a skill
  24. rest — a break

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