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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: rash · spell · nail · lie · key · club · deal · racket

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. spell — a short time
  6. deal — to handle
  7. spell — letters
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. key — for a lock
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. club — for dancing
  12. key — the most important part
  13. key — in music
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. club — a group
  17. rash — hasty
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. spell — magic
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. lie — to recline
  24. club — for golf

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