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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. object — to protest
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pitch — completely
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. lie — to recline
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. spell — letters
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. object — an aim
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. plane — a tool
  20. object — a thing
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. spell — magic

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