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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. face — part of the head
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. face — to point toward
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. stem — to come from
  16. rock — music
  17. pitch — completely
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. rock — a stone
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. face — to confront
  24. cabinet — ministers

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