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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.

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: spell · staff · dip · stick · court · ball · arm · suit

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. spell — magic
  3. suit — to fit
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. court — of a king
  6. spell — letters
  7. court — of law
  8. suit — clothes
  9. ball — a great time
  10. spell — a short time
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. staff — a stick
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. staff — employees
  17. ball — a dance
  18. suit — in cards
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. staff — employees
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. court — for sport
  24. ball — a round shape

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