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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 120 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: fan · staff · can · bore · ball · chest · suit · squash

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bore — to drill
  3. staff — a stick
  4. ball — a great time
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. staff — employees
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. squash — the sport
  9. chest — a box
  10. suit — to fit
  11. suit — clothes
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. can — a tin
  16. staff — employees
  17. can — a tin
  18. chest — of your body
  19. bore — to tire
  20. ball — a dance
  21. can — to be able to
  22. chest — of your body
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. squash — to crush

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