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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 116 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fine — all right
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. net — after costs
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — for catching
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. lie — to recline
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — to get on
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. fine — high quality
  24. cabinet — ministers

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