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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: bowl · lean · wave · suit · spell · pitcher · cue · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. cue — a signal
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. spell — letters
  7. cue — a hint
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. spell — magic
  13. lean — to bend
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. spell — a short time
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. cue — for pool
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. lean — thin
  23. suit — clothes
  24. suit — in cards

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