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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 116 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: march · bay · suit · bound · spring · mark · kick · spell

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. march — music
  3. suit — clothes
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. kick — in football
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. spell — a short time
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. spring — the season
  12. spring — a coil
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bound — certain
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. mark — a trace
  17. spell — letters
  18. spring — of water
  19. suit — to fit
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bound — obliged
  22. march — the month
  23. spell — magic
  24. mark — to pay attention

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