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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 120 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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. cap — a lid
  6. tube — a container
  7. fine — high quality
  8. mug — to rob
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cap — of ice
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mark — a trace
  14. mark — a grade
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. mug — a cup
  17. cap — a hat
  18. tube — the underground
  19. hand — in cards
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. hand — help

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