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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. lie — to recline
  3. squash — the sport
  4. firm — steady
  5. suit — clothes
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. squash — to crush
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. firm — decided
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rest — a break
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. suit — in cards
  15. rest — what's left
  16. stock — goods
  17. stock — shares
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. suit — to fit
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. firm — a company
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. rule — government

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