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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 120 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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. key — in music
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. key — the most important part
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rest — what's left
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. rest — a break
  13. key — for a lock
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. board — to get on
  17. wound — an injury
  18. rest — what's left
  19. board — a committee
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rash — a series
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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