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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. chip — for betting
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. shower — rain
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. chip — to eat
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. mark — a trace
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. perch — the fish
  14. shower — to wash
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. season — in sport
  17. stand — to bear
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. mark — a grade
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. season — of the year
  24. chip — in a computer

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