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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. pit — in a race
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. net — after costs
  5. mate — a friend
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. net — for catching
  8. pit — a hole
  9. lean — to bend
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lean — thin
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. mate — a partner
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. mate — to breed
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. pitch — completely
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. net — in sport
  24. bowl — to roll

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