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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. suit — clothes
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. suit — to fit
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. deal — to handle
  12. suit — in cards
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. rash — a series
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. board — to get on
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. board — a committee
  23. roll — a list
  24. roll — a cake

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