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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. pit — in a race
  4. drill — army training
  5. net — after costs
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lie — to recline
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. wax — to grow
  14. drill — the tool
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pit — a hole
  17. net — for catching
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. net — in sport
  23. drill — a practice
  24. safe — a strongbox

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