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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: craft · date · suit · racket · calf · march · cap · wave

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. cap — of ice
  3. craft — a skill
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. date — the fruit
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. cap — a lid
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. march — the month
  15. march — the month
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. march — music
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. craft — boats
  23. cap — a hat
  24. wave — of the sea

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