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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. mate — to breed
  3. kid — to tease
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. kid — child
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. court — of a king
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. stand — to bear
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mate — a friend
  17. bulb — for light
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. ball — a dance
  20. court — of law
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. court — for sport
  23. mate — a partner
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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