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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. net — for catching
  9. suit — in cards
  10. suit — to fit
  11. pitch — completely
  12. suit — clothes
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — all right
  15. fine — high quality
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. net — in sport
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mark — a grade
  20. snap — to click
  21. net — after costs
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. mark — a trace
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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