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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. bear — the animal
  3. ball — a great time
  4. pound — a weight
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mug — a face
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — to recline
  10. mark — a trace
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. mug — to rob
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bear — the animal
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mark — a grade
  17. ball — a dance
  18. mug — a cup
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. scale — size or range
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. calf — a young animal

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