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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 120 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. can — a tin
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. board — to get on
  5. bank — of a river
  6. can — to be able to
  7. suit — to fit
  8. bank — for money
  9. suit — clothes
  10. board — a committee
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bank — for money
  16. tube — a container
  17. can — a tin
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. tube — the underground
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. kick — in football
  24. foot — a measure

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