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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. ball — a great time
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. board — to get on
  6. board — a committee
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. ball — a dance
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. hand — help
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. hand — part of the body

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