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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. toast — bread
  3. pit — in a race
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. pit — a hole
  10. track — a path
  11. track — to keep track
  12. pop — music
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. pop — to visit
  19. saw — the tool
  20. track — a song
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. calf — a young animal

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