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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 116 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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. key — in music
  4. board — to get on
  5. mug — a cup
  6. shower — to wash
  7. key — the most important part
  8. track — a path
  9. key — for a lock
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. board — a committee
  13. track — to keep track
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. shower — rain
  18. stand — to bear
  19. track — a song
  20. mug — to rob
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. mug — a face
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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