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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. degree — temperature
  7. wound — an injury
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. degree — from a university
  11. suit — to fit
  12. pit — in a race
  13. date — the fruit
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. degree — an amount
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lie — to recline
  19. can — to be able to
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. pit — a hole
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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