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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. suit — clothes
  4. club — for golf
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. staff — employees
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. swing — in golf
  12. sharp — clever
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. vault — a safe
  15. plane — a tool
  16. swing — to play on
  17. club — for dancing
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. staff — a stick
  20. club — a group
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. staff — employees
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. calf — a young animal

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