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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 belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. row — to paddle
  3. suit — in cards
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. can — to be able to
  6. row — a line
  7. can — a tin
  8. club — for golf
  9. stand — to bear
  10. suit — clothes
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. can — a tin
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. suit — to fit
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. deal — to handle
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. club — for dancing
  24. straw — dry grass

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