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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: ruler · toast · pit · suit · spell · bound · date · roll

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. spell — a short time
  3. spell — letters
  4. date — the fruit
  5. suit — clothes
  6. bound — tied together
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. roll — a list
  9. pit — in a race
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. pit — a hole
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. suit — to fit
  17. toast — bread
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bound — certain
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. spell — magic
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. bound — obliged

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