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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. field — a subject
  4. cell — in biology
  5. can — a tin
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. can — to be able to
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. file — a line of people
  15. field — farmland
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. file — a document
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. file — a tool
  20. cell — a phone
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. field — for sport

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