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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. dip — to sink
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. object — to protest
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. ball — a dance
  7. object — a thing
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ball — a great time
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. stock — goods
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. stock — shares
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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