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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: suit · rash · rock · firm · board · ruler · nail · spell

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. board — a committee
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. suit — to fit
  9. rock — a stone
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. firm — a company
  12. firm — steady
  13. spell — letters
  14. rash — hasty
  15. firm — decided
  16. board — to get on
  17. rash — a series
  18. spell — magic
  19. suit — in cards
  20. spell — a short time
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. suit — clothes
  24. rock — music

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