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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: rule · dip · deal · suit · trunk · lie · bay · spell

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. rule — government
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. suit — to fit
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. dip — to sink
  7. spell — magic
  8. lie — to recline
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. rule — a law
  11. spell — a short time
  12. suit — clothes
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. deal — to handle
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. suit — in cards
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. dip — a sauce

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