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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.

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: hide · cue · bass · track · bay · spell · snap · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. spell — a short time
  3. track — to keep track
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. spell — letters
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. track — a song
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. cue — a signal
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bass — low music
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. snap — to click
  17. track — a path
  18. suit — to fit
  19. spell — magic
  20. bass — the fish
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. cue — for pool
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bay — a horse colour

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