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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mug — a cup
  4. content — the amount
  5. court — for sport
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. mug — to rob
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. court — of a king
  12. rush — hurry
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mug — a face
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. content — happy
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — to recline
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. plane — a tool
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. court — of law

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