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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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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: suit · calf · season · mug · bay · cell · chest · stick

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. cell — in biology
  3. suit — in cards
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. suit — to fit
  6. cell — a phone
  7. chest — of your body
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. suit — clothes
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. mug — to rob
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. chest — a box
  16. mug — a cup
  17. season — of the year
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. chest — of your body
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. season — in sport
  24. mug — a face

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