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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 124 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 am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  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. fan — a supporter
  2. ball — a great time
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. wake — a trail
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. suit — clothes
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. suit — in cards
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. firm — decided
  14. ball — a dance
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. band — a music group
  19. firm — steady
  20. firm — a company
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. sharp — clever
  23. band — a ring
  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