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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: cue · calf · bear · cold · safe · net · suit · bass

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The water is too ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. net — after costs
  3. bear — the animal
  4. cold — the Cold War
  5. bass — the fish
  6. suit — in cards
  7. bass — low music
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cue — a signal
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. net — in sport
  13. suit — clothes
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. cold — not warm
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. cue — for pool
  20. net — for catching
  21. cold — an illness
  22. cue — a hint
  23. bear — the animal
  24. calf — a young animal

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