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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. suit — in cards
  4. pop — to visit
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. pop — music
  9. bear — the animal
  10. suit — to fit
  11. can — a tin
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pop — soda
  14. perch — the fish
  15. can — a tin
  16. suit — clothes
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bear — the animal
  19. can — to be able to
  20. face — to point toward
  21. face — part of the head
  22. face — to confront
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. calf — a young animal

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