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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 116 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 · cue · pass · nail · staff · track · face · dip

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. staff — a stick
  6. track — to keep track
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. dip — to sink
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. spell — letters
  12. track — a song
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — for pool
  15. face — to point toward
  16. spell — magic
  17. staff — employees
  18. face — to confront
  19. cue — a signal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. face — part of the head
  22. staff — employees
  23. pass — a permit
  24. track — a path

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