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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. object — an aim
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bark — to shout
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. spring — a coil
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. object — to protest
  17. spring — of water
  18. vault — a safe
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. spring — the season
  21. object — a thing
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. hide — to keep secret

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