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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 116 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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. ground — crushed
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. drill — army training
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. cap — a hat
  8. rock — a stone
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. drill — a practice
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. ground — the earth
  13. ground — a position
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. cap — a lid
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rock — music
  19. cap — of ice
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. wake — a trail
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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