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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 124 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 · snap · plane · pit · spell · ball · rule · jam

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. rule — a law
  3. ball — a great time
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. spell — magic
  6. ball — a dance
  7. suit — clothes
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. plane — a tool
  12. spell — letters
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. suit — in cards
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. pit — in a race
  18. pit — a hole
  19. rule — government
  20. snap — to click
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. suit — to fit
  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