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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. ball — a great time
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. tube — the underground
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. pop — soda
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stand — to bear
  12. can — a tin
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. can — a tin
  16. vault — a safe
  17. kick — in football
  18. tube — a container
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. ball — a dance
  21. pop — to visit
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. pop — music
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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