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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 had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. face — part of the head
  4. face — to point toward
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. face — to confront
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. wax — to grow
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bound — certain
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. rock — a stone
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. rock — music
  24. bowl — a dish

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