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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: suit · spell · dip · current · hide · cue · leaves · mine

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. dip — to sink
  3. cue — a signal
  4. spell — a short time
  5. suit — clothes
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. spell — letters
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. mine — for digging
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. suit — to fit
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. spell — magic
  16. current — of water
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. cue — a hint
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. suit — in cards
  21. cue — for pool
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. current — happening now
  24. current — electric

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