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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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Word bank
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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 King held a masked ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. mate — to breed
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. tear — from crying
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. pit — in a race
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. tear — from crying
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. wax — to grow
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. pit — a hole
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. mate — a partner
  19. ball — a great time
  20. pitch — completely
  21. tear — to rip
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. mate — a friend

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