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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.

Make a worksheet

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: rash · leaves · suit · mine · mouse · net · spell · bound

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. suit — in cards
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bound — obliged
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bound — tied together
  9. spell — magic
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. net — for catching
  16. bound — certain
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. spell — a short time
  20. spell — letters
  21. rash — a series
  22. mine — for digging
  23. suit — to fit
  24. net — after costs

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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