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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 120 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: kick · dip · suit · lie · current · calf · season · mate

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. suit — to fit
  3. season — of the year
  4. kick — in football
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. mate — a friend
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. mate — a partner
  11. suit — clothes
  12. mate — to breed
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. suit — in cards
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. current — of water
  18. current — electric
  19. season — in sport
  20. lie — to recline
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. current — happening now
  24. calf — of the leg

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