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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: mate · pitch · perch · rash · suit · calf · current · row

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. suit — to fit
  3. perch — the fish
  4. row — to paddle
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. current — of water
  7. current — happening now
  8. rash — a series
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mate — to breed
  13. row — a line
  14. rash — hasty
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. current — electric
  18. pitch — completely
  19. mate — a friend
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mate — a partner

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