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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. 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. calf — a young animal
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — a cake
  4. mug — a cup
  5. lie — to recline
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. drill — a practice
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. drill — the tool
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. mug — to rob
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. drill — army training
  24. 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