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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. fine — all right
  4. kick — in football
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. pit — a hole
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. key — the most important part
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. fine — high quality
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. key — in music
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. key — for a lock
  21. pit — in a race
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. fork — in a road

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