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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 is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. foot — a measure
  5. cap — a hat
  6. toast — bread
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. season — of the year
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. lean — to bend
  11. cap — of ice
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. season — in sport
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. cap — a lid
  24. calf — of the leg

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