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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. spring — the season
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. suit — in cards
  5. lie — to recline
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. suit — to fit
  8. rock — music
  9. sharp — clever
  10. suit — clothes
  11. cap — a lid
  12. cap — of ice
  13. cap — a hat
  14. prune — to trim
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. spring — a coil
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. spring — of water
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — a stone
  24. prune — to trim

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