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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bound — obliged
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. cap — of ice
  7. fine — high quality
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. cap — a hat
  10. bound — tied together
  11. cap — a lid
  12. saw — the tool
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. toast — bread
  16. bound — certain
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. board — to get on
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. board — a committee
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. saw — the tool
  24. fine — all right

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