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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: temple · fine · date · object · lean · sharp · calf · suit

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. fine — high quality
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. lean — to bend
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lean — thin
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. suit — clothes
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. sharp — clever
  14. suit — in cards
  15. object — an aim
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. object — a thing
  19. fine — all right
  20. date — the fruit
  21. suit — to fit
  22. object — to protest
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. temple — a place of worship

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