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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. pit — a hole
  3. bulb — for light
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mark — a trace
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. foot — a measure
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. mark — a grade
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. pit — in a race

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