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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. mate — to breed
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mate — a friend
  11. game — a match
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bore — to tire
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. mate — a partner
  17. game — wild animals
  18. bore — to drill
  19. vault — a safe
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. kid — to tease
  23. kid — child
  24. mark — to pay attention

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