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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  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. suit — in cards
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. fine — all right
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. suit — clothes
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pit — a hole
  11. club — for golf
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. root — the cause
  15. fine — high quality
  16. suit — to fit
  17. root — of a plant
  18. pit — in a race
  19. root — of a word
  20. club — a group
  21. kick — in football
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. club — for dancing
  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