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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. court — of a king
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. track — to keep track
  6. court — of law
  7. bark — to shout
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. track — a path
  13. mug — a cup
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. can — a tin
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bass — the fish
  18. court — for sport
  19. bass — low music
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. track — a song
  24. bear — the 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