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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: bore · bass · rock · suit · mate · spell · scale · wake

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. spell — letters
  3. mate — to breed
  4. bore — to tire
  5. rock — music
  6. scale — in music
  7. bass — low music
  8. mate — a friend
  9. wake — a trail
  10. suit — clothes
  11. spell — magic
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. scale — size or range
  14. spell — a short time
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bass — the fish
  20. rock — a stone
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bore — to drill

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