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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. bound — tied together
  3. club — a group
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. roll — a list
  6. net — in sport
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. bound — certain
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. net — for catching
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. club — for dancing
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. key — in music
  16. bound — obliged
  17. key — for a lock
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. net — after costs
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. key — the most important part
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. club — for golf
  24. roll — a cake

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