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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. pass — a permit
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rule — a law
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. kick — in football
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a great time
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. can — a tin
  16. suit — clothes
  17. suit — to fit
  18. can — to be able to
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. can — a tin
  22. rule — government
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. suit — in cards

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