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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 120 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 did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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. fine — high quality
  4. cap — a lid
  5. staff — employees
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stock — goods
  10. bound — certain
  11. squash — the sport
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pit — a hole
  14. staff — a stick
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. staff — employees
  17. cap — a hat
  18. fine — all right
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. bound — tied together
  21. cap — of ice
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. squash — to crush
  24. stock — shares

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