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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 120 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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. object — to protest
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. pop — to visit
  7. charge — in control
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. stand — to bear
  10. can — a tin
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. sharp — clever
  13. charge — electricity
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. pop — soda
  16. object — a thing
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. object — an aim
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. pop — music
  22. charge — a price
  23. can — to be able to
  24. sharp — with an edge

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