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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: suit · object · deal · last · row · cabinet · rash · staff

  1. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. row — to paddle
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. row — a line
  5. staff — employees
  6. object — a thing
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. deal — to handle
  12. suit — in cards
  13. staff — employees
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rash — hasty
  16. object — to protest
  17. last — to go on
  18. suit — to fit
  19. staff — a stick
  20. last — finally
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rash — a series
  23. object — an aim
  24. suit — clothes

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