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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: key · lie · can · bore · spell · snap · suit · face

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. spell — magic
  5. key — in music
  6. bore — to drill
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. suit — in cards
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bore — to tire
  11. key — the most important part
  12. spell — letters
  13. face — to point toward
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. face — to confront
  17. can — to be able to
  18. face — part of the head
  19. snap — to click
  20. suit — to fit
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. spell — a short time
  23. key — for a lock
  24. suit — clothes

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