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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. dip — to sink
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. wake — a trail
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. last — finally
  9. fork — in a road
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. roll — a list
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. chair — a leader
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. last — to go on
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. last — final
  24. roll — a cake

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