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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 giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. capital — a city
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. toast — bread
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. capital — money
  10. pass — a permit
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — the tool
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. rest — what's left
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. rest — what's left
  20. rest — a break
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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