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

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. toast — bread
  9. sharp — clever
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. field — for sport
  13. field — farmland
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pass — a permit
  18. field — a subject
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. bulb — for light

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