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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
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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: jam · suit · spell · rash · wake · rush · craft · plane

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. plane — a tool
  3. suit — in cards
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. rush — hurry
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. craft — a skill
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. spell — magic
  13. wake — a trail
  14. spell — letters
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. rash — a series
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. spell — a short time
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. craft — boats
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. suit — clothes

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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