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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. season — in sport
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. season — of the year
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. drill — the tool
  11. drill — army training
  12. lie — to recline
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. track — a song
  21. track — to keep track
  22. pitch — completely
  23. track — a path
  24. lie — an untruth

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