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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 116 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 did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. last — finally
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. mate — a partner
  6. mate — to breed
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. last — to go on
  10. snap — to click
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mate — a friend
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. lie — to recline
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. last — final

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