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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: pass · staff · spell · ball · present · lie · fan · bound

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. staff — employees
  4. bound — tied together
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bound — certain
  8. ball — a dance
  9. staff — employees
  10. spell — magic
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pass — a permit
  14. ball — a great time
  15. present — there
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. spell — letters
  18. bound — obliged
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. staff — a stick
  21. lie — to recline
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. present — a gift
  24. present — the time now

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