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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. pop — soda
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. spring — of water
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. suit — in cards
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. rule — a law
  13. spring — a coil
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rule — government
  16. suit — to fit
  17. spring — the season
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. pop — music
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pass — a permit
  23. suit — clothes
  24. rock — music

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