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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 did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. club — for golf
  4. club — a group
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. ball — a dance
  9. club — for dancing
  10. bark — to shout
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bound — certain
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. toast — bread
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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