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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. suit — to fit
  4. season — in sport
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. club — for golf
  7. suit — clothes
  8. season — of the year
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. roll — a list
  12. club — a group
  13. rash — a series
  14. prune — to trim
  15. can — a tin
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. club — for dancing
  18. prune — to trim
  19. can — to be able to
  20. roll — a cake
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. can — a tin
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rash — on the skin

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