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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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. bound — certain
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. land — a country
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — obliged
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. land — ground
  9. cue — a hint
  10. mark — a grade
  11. cue — for pool
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. lie — to recline
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fork — in a road
  17. mark — a trace
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. cue — a signal
  24. safe — out of danger

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