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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. march — the month
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. roll — a cake
  10. fine — high quality
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. toast — bread
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. saw — the tool
  17. march — music
  18. saw — the tool
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. roll — a list
  21. march — the month
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. fine — all right

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