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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. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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. pound — to hit hard
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. suit — in cards
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bear — the animal
  20. pound — a weight
  21. branch — a division
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mouse — the 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