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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. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bear — the animal
  7. dip — to sink
  8. spring — a coil
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bear — the animal
  11. mine — for digging
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. bank — of a river
  14. bank — for money
  15. spring — the season
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. object — to protest
  18. bank — for money
  19. object — a thing
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. spring — of water
  22. lie — to recline
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. object — an aim

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