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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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Word bank
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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bore — to tire
  4. mate — a partner
  5. can — a tin
  6. mate — to breed
  7. bore — to drill
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. pit — a hole
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. ball — a dance
  18. pit — in a race
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. can — a tin
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. mate — a friend
  23. can — to be able to
  24. ball — a great time

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