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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. fall — to drop
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. scale — size or range
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. fall — to drop
  11. mate — to breed
  12. stand — to bear
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. mate — a partner
  15. scale — in music
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. fall — the season
  20. vault — a safe
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. mate — a friend
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. stand — for spectators

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