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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. fine — high quality
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bound — certain
  7. board — to get on
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. track — a path
  11. track — a song
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. bound — obliged
  14. track — to keep track
  15. board — a committee
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. vault — a safe
  21. fine — all right
  22. bound — tied together
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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