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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. 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. pitcher — in baseball
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bank — for money
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. bank — of a river
  7. mug — to rob
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fine — all right
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mug — a cup
  12. rash — a series
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bank — for money
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. 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