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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 120 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: suit · pass · squash · spell · nail · fan · bound · trunk

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bound — obliged
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bound — certain
  7. spell — magic
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. squash — the sport
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. spell — letters
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. suit — clothes
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. suit — in cards
  22. squash — to crush
  23. suit — to fit
  24. spell — a short time

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