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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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bound — certain
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. lie — to recline
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. plane — a tool
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — music
  13. bound — obliged
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. file — a tool
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. bound — tied together
  18. net — for catching
  19. file — a line of people
  20. net — in sport
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. file — a document
  23. net — after costs
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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