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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. spell — magic
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — to push
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. press — a publisher
  13. can — to be able to
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. spell — a short time
  19. bore — to tire
  20. can — a tin
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. spell — letters
  24. bore — to drill

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