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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. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. current — electric
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. hand — in cards
  6. hand — help
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. tear — from crying
  10. current — of water
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. content — happy
  13. tear — to rip
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. current — happening now
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. rush — hurry
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. tear — from crying
  24. rush — to hurry

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