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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. drill — a practice
  3. mate — a friend
  4. drill — the tool
  5. bound — tied together
  6. mate — to breed
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. craft — a skill
  12. bound — certain
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. drill — army training
  16. bound — obliged
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. fine — all right
  19. mate — a partner
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. fine — high quality
  23. craft — boats
  24. racket — for tennis

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