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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 120 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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. stand — to bear
  5. net — in sport
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. dip — to sink
  10. land — to come down
  11. land — ground
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. land — a country
  22. net — after costs
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. ruler — for measuring

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