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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bound — tied together
  3. rash — a series
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. bound — certain
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rash — hasty
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. fork — in a road
  10. scale — in music
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bound — obliged
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bear — the animal

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