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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. bulb — for light
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. can — a tin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pit — in a race
  10. can — to be able to
  11. face — part of the head
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. face — to confront
  14. face — to point toward
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. chip — to eat
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bulb — for light
  24. chip — for betting

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