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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 · roll · nail · can · track · date · cell · pitcher

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. suit — clothes
  3. date — the fruit
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. can — to be able to
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. track — to keep track
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. track — a song
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. cell — a phone
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. suit — in cards
  19. track — a path
  20. roll — a cake
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. suit — to fit
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. cell — in biology

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