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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 116 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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. season — of the year
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. can — a tin
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. current — happening now
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. can — a tin
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. season — in sport
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. ball — a great time
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. game — a match
  17. current — electric
  18. can — to be able to
  19. current — of water
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. game — wild animals
  24. ball — a dance

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