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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. rock — music
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bulb — for light
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bulb — for light
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. ball — a great time
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. ball — a dance
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rock — to move gently

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