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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: fan · suit · spell · mug · row · racket · saw · wave

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. row — to paddle
  3. spell — a short time
  4. spell — letters
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. saw — the tool
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mug — a cup
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. suit — in cards
  12. mug — a face
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. suit — clothes
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. spell — magic
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. suit — to fit
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mug — to rob
  24. wave — with your hand

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