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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. branch — a division
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. key — the most important part
  7. bound — certain
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. key — in music
  10. bound — obliged
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bound — tied together
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. key — for a lock
  24. calf — a young animal

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