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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bore — to tire
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rock — music
  8. bear — the animal
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. bound — tied together
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bore — to drill
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. bound — obliged
  20. dip — to sink
  21. face — part of the head
  22. face — to point toward
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. bound — certain

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