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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. suit — clothes
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. field — farmland
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. suit — to fit
  7. current — happening now
  8. rush — hurry
  9. field — for sport
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. suit — in cards
  14. field — a subject
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. current — of water
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. current — electric
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. bear — the animal
  24. snap — to click

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