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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: fine · suit · content · calf · toast · present · spell · nail

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. suit — clothes
  3. present — there
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fine — all right
  7. content — the amount
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. present — a gift
  10. present — the time now
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. suit — in cards
  13. spell — letters
  14. spell — magic
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. toast — bread
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. suit — to fit
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. content — happy
  23. spell — a short time
  24. nail — for a hammer

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