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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
468
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: craft · can · spell · land · bore · suit · cue · key

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. cue — for pool
  3. spell — magic
  4. bore — to drill
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. suit — clothes
  7. can — to be able to
  8. suit — to fit
  9. bore — to tire
  10. key — the most important part
  11. land — to come down
  12. land — ground
  13. can — a tin
  14. spell — a short time
  15. spell — letters
  16. cue — a signal
  17. land — a country
  18. craft — a skill
  19. key — in music
  20. craft — boats
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. can — a tin
  24. cue — a hint

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