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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. can — a tin
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. can — to be able to
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. craft — boats
  10. suit — clothes
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. lie — to recline
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. can — a tin
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. hand — in cards
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. suit — in cards
  19. hand — help
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. craft — a skill
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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