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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 120 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 cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. suit — clothes
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. bank — for money
  6. bound — certain
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bound — obliged
  9. suit — to fit
  10. season — in sport
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. content — the amount
  14. suit — in cards
  15. bank — for money
  16. season — of the year
  17. prune — to trim
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. bound — tied together
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. content — happy
  24. calf — a young animal

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