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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 116 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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. stand — to bear
  5. suit — to fit
  6. kick — in football
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. net — after costs
  10. net — in sport
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pit — in a race
  13. net — for catching
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. pit — a hole
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. suit — in cards
  23. suit — clothes
  24. kick — with a leg

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