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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. wake — a trail
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. track — a path
  5. mug — to rob
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. track — to keep track
  10. band — a music group
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — a face
  13. mate — a partner
  14. mate — a friend
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — for money
  17. rock — music
  18. track — a song
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bank — of a river
  21. rock — a stone
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. band — a ring

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