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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. current — happening now
  5. capital — money
  6. current — of water
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. suit — clothes
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. capital — a big letter
  13. degree — an amount
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. can — a tin
  16. current — electric
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. capital — a city
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. degree — from a university
  24. degree — temperature

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