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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. tube — a container
  4. bound — certain
  5. plane — a tool
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. cue — a hint
  8. dip — to sink
  9. bound — obliged
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. bear — the animal
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bound — tied together
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. tube — the underground
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cue — for pool
  22. pit — a hole
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. calf — a young animal

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