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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. object — a thing
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. object — an aim
  6. can — to be able to
  7. stock — shares
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. pop — to visit
  11. pop — soda
  12. stock — goods
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. object — to protest
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. can — a tin
  23. wake — a trail
  24. can — a tin

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