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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. scale — in music
  5. rock — a stone
  6. bore — to tire
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bore — to drill
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rock — music
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. rash — a series
  17. pitch — completely
  18. scale — size or range
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. wake — a trail
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. calf — a young animal

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