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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. roll — a list
  5. suit — in cards
  6. spring — the season
  7. kick — in football
  8. face — to point toward
  9. toast — bread
  10. suit — clothes
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. spring — of water
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. roll — a cake
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. spring — a coil
  21. face — part of the head
  22. face — to confront
  23. roll — on a roll
  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