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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. shower — rain
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. dip — to sink
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bulb — for light
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. shower — to wash
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lean — to bend
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. bass — low music
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. lean — thin
  24. bass — the fish

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