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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. key — for a lock
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pass — a permit
  7. row — a line
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. row — to paddle
  11. key — in music
  12. stock — goods
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. lie — to recline
  18. stock — shares
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. key — the most important part
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. lie — an untruth

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