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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. ball — a dance
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. can — to be able to
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. prune — to trim
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. can — a tin
  19. lie — to recline
  20. prune — to trim
  21. can — a tin
  22. ball — a great time
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. prune — the fruit

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