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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: snap · suit · calf · stand · net · leaves · mouse · ball

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. net — for catching
  3. suit — in cards
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. snap — to click
  6. net — in sport
  7. suit — to fit
  8. ball — a great time
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. net — after costs
  11. ball — a dance
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. suit — clothes
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. stand — to bear
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. calf — a young animal

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