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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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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: swing · roll · dip · deal · bound · stem · squash · suit

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. swing — in golf
  3. roll — a cake
  4. stem — to come from
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. bound — obliged
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. dip — to sink
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bound — certain
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. suit — to fit
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. bound — tied together
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. deal — to handle
  18. squash — the sport
  19. squash — to crush
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. suit — in cards
  22. swing — music
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. swing — to play on

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