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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: pitch · bank · suit · sharp · spell · cabinet · ruler · rest

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. bank — for money
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. suit — clothes
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. suit — to fit
  8. suit — in cards
  9. sharp — clever
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. rest — what's left
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. spell — magic
  14. spell — a short time
  15. bank — of a river
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. rest — what's left
  20. rest — a break
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. pitch — completely
  24. bank — for money

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