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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.

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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: can · suit · cue · bay · wind · saw · foot · rash

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. suit — in cards
  4. can — a tin
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — the tool
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. rash — hasty
  11. wind — moving air
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — a signal
  15. foot — a measure
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. saw — the tool
  19. wind — moving air
  20. rash — a series
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. suit — to fit
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. bay — a horse colour

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