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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: spell · rule · plane · mark · suit · hand · jam · pound

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. plane — a tool
  4. hand — help
  5. suit — clothes
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. hand — in cards
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. spell — magic
  11. spell — letters
  12. rule — government
  13. suit — in cards
  14. mark — a trace
  15. spell — a short time
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. mark — a grade
  19. suit — to fit
  20. rule — a law
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. pound — a weight
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. rule — to rule out

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