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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
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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: toast · squash · chair · spring · ruler · mug · key · spell

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. squash — to crush
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. key — in music
  5. spring — of water
  6. squash — the sport
  7. key — the most important part
  8. mug — a face
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. spring — a coil
  12. chair — a leader
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. spell — magic
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. key — for a lock
  17. spring — the season
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. mug — a cup
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. mug — to rob
  23. spell — letters
  24. toast — bread

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