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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stick · cue · can · snap · leaves · spell · rash · object

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. object — to protest
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. rash — hasty
  6. object — a thing
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. can — a tin
  9. rash — a series
  10. spell — a short time
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. spell — magic
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. cue — a signal
  15. cue — for pool
  16. object — an aim
  17. can — to be able to
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. can — a tin
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. spell — letters
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. cue — a hint

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