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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. rash — hasty
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. march — the month
  8. march — the month
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. ground — crushed
  12. rash — a series
  13. ground — a position
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. can — a tin
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. march — music
  19. can — to be able to
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. ground — the earth
  24. rush — hurry

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