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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 116 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: calf · net · ground · swing · cabinet · suit · vault · hide

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  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 — clothes
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. swing — music
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. net — for catching
  9. vault — a safe
  10. net — after costs
  11. ground — a position
  12. swing — to play on
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. swing — in golf
  16. suit — in cards
  17. ground — crushed
  18. suit — to fit
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. net — in sport
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. ground — the earth
  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