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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. suit — clothes
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. last — final
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mine — for digging
  7. last — finally
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. board — a committee
  10. suit — in cards
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. can — a tin
  15. pass — a permit
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. last — to go on
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. can — a tin
  22. suit — to fit
  23. board — to get on
  24. can — to be able to

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