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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. kick — in football
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. dip — to sink
  5. object — a thing
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bound — obliged
  9. prune — to trim
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. mark — a grade
  12. object — to protest
  13. mark — a trace
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. prune — to trim
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bound — tied together
  19. object — an aim
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. bound — certain
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. kick — with a leg

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