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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  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. lean — thin
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bat — the animal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. can — a tin
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rock — a stone
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. can — a tin
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. can — to be able to
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. lean — to bend
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. rock — music
  23. rock — to move gently
  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