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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cell · temple · suit · arm · jam · spell · date · scale

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. scale — in music
  4. cell — a phone
  5. date — the fruit
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. scale — size or range
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. spell — letters
  11. suit — to fit
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. cell — in biology
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. suit — in cards
  19. spell — a short time
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. suit — clothes
  24. date — on the calendar

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