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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: toast · dip · key · suit · rash · hide · game · leaves

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. game — wild animals
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. rash — a series
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. toast — bread
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. dip — to sink
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. suit — clothes
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. rash — hasty
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. suit — to fit
  20. key — the most important part
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. key — in music
  23. suit — in cards
  24. key — for a lock

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