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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. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. rash — a series
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bark — to shout
  5. can — a tin
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rash — hasty
  8. perch — the fish
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. suit — clothes
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. stand — to bear
  15. sharp — clever
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. can — a tin
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. suit — to fit

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