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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pop — to visit
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. pop — soda
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. vault — a safe
  16. pop — music
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. fan — a supporter

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