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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 ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pop — to visit
  3. pop — soda
  4. prune — to trim
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. track — to keep track
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. pop — music
  12. prune — to trim
  13. track — a path
  14. kick — in football
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. key — for a lock
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. key — in music
  22. track — a song
  23. key — the most important part
  24. pitcher — a jug

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