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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. lean — to bend
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. capital — money
  7. rash — hasty
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. can — to be able to
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. rash — a series
  14. toast — bread
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. lie — to recline
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. capital — a city
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lean — thin

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