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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. current — happening now
  4. season — of the year
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. swing — music
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. swing — in golf
  9. season — in sport
  10. swing — to play on
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. net — after costs
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. suit — to fit
  16. current — of water
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rock — music
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. net — in sport
  21. suit — in cards
  22. suit — clothes
  23. net — for catching
  24. current — electric

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