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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. last — finally
  5. hand — help
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. hand — in cards
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. last — to go on
  12. vault — a safe
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. toast — bread
  18. rash — a series
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. rash — hasty
  21. sharp — clever
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. last — final

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