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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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Word bank
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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. rash — a series
  8. lie — to recline
  9. bear — the animal
  10. charge — electricity
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. band — a ring
  14. bear — the animal
  15. band — a music group
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. charge — a price
  19. rash — hasty
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. charge — in control
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. mine — for digging

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