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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. pop — soda
  4. march — the month
  5. foot — a measure
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. bear — the animal
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pop — music
  13. fork — in a road
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. march — the month
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. suit — to fit
  20. sharp — clever
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. pop — to visit
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. march — 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