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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: key · chip · spell · roll · fan · hand · coach · bear

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. hand — in cards
  7. hand — help
  8. roll — a list
  9. roll — a cake
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. spell — a short time
  13. key — for a lock
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. key — in music
  17. chip — to eat
  18. spell — letters
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. chip — for betting
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. key — the most important part
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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