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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. wound — an injury
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. pit — a hole
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. current — happening now
  11. pit — in a race
  12. rash — hasty
  13. current — electric
  14. suit — clothes
  15. wound — an injury
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. current — of water
  18. bulb — for light
  19. stand — to bear
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. suit — to fit
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rash — a series

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