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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: leaves · tube · ruler · spell · suit · mug · staff · degree

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. suit — to fit
  3. suit — in cards
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. spell — letters
  6. degree — temperature
  7. staff — a stick
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. suit — clothes
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — to rob
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. degree — from a university
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. tube — a container
  16. staff — employees
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. degree — an amount
  20. spell — a short time
  21. staff — employees
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. spell — magic
  24. mug — a face

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