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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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. suit — to fit
  3. net — in sport
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. net — for catching
  6. kick — in football
  7. net — after costs
  8. suit — in cards
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. rock — a stone
  11. spell — a short time
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. spell — letters
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bear — the animal
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bear — the animal
  22. spell — magic
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. rock — music

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