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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. charge — electricity
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. charge — a price
  6. prune — to trim
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. suit — clothes
  9. can — a tin
  10. charge — in control
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. suit — to fit
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. game — a match
  15. bass — low music
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. bass — the fish
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. suit — in cards
  22. can — to be able to
  23. game — wild animals
  24. wave — with your hand

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