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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
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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: suit · calf · season · snap · current · lean · cabinet · temple

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. suit — clothes
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. season — of the year
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. lean — thin
  11. snap — to click
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. current — electric
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. suit — in cards
  17. current — happening now
  18. suit — to fit
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. lean — to bend
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. season — in sport
  23. current — of water
  24. temple — side of the head

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