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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. wound — an injury
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. can — to be able to
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. can — a tin
  11. plane — a tool
  12. bear — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. mark — a trace
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. cap — of ice
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mark — a grade
  19. wound — an injury
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. pitch — completely
  22. bear — the animal
  23. cap — a hat
  24. calf — a young animal

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