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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: suit · racket · fan · key · spring · roll · cue · lean

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. key — in music
  3. roll — a list
  4. suit — to fit
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. lean — to bend
  7. suit — clothes
  8. key — the most important part
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. spring — of water
  14. spring — the season
  15. suit — in cards
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. cue — for pool
  18. spring — a coil
  19. roll — a cake
  20. cue — a signal
  21. lean — thin
  22. cue — a hint
  23. key — for a lock
  24. fan — to cool the air

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