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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. suit — to fit
  3. march — the month
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. suit — in cards
  6. bound — certain
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rock — music
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bound — tied together
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. net — in sport
  14. deal — to handle
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. net — after costs
  18. march — the month
  19. net — for catching
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rock — a stone
  22. march — music
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. calf — of the 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