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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. present — a gift
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. content — happy
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. present — the time now
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. track — a song
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bound — certain
  15. content — the amount
  16. track — a path
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. snap — to click
  21. present — there
  22. track — to keep track
  23. bound — tied together
  24. leaves — lets stay

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