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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 116 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: net · content · bay · pit · suit · rock · season · calf

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. net — for catching
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. net — in sport
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. rock — a stone
  8. suit — clothes
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. season — in sport
  11. net — after costs
  12. suit — in cards
  13. rock — music
  14. content — the amount
  15. content — happy
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. pit — a hole
  18. suit — to fit
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. season — of the year
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. pit — in a race

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