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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. pit — a hole
  4. band — a ring
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. pit — in a race
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. band — a music group
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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