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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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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: cabinet · bay · rash · stick · calf · perch · last · suit

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. perch — the fish
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. suit — to fit
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. last — to go on
  7. rash — hasty
  8. suit — clothes
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. last — finally
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. last — final
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. rash — a series
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. perch — for a bird

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