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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. press — to push
  5. hand — help
  6. bear — the animal
  7. press — newspapers
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. tube — the underground
  11. hand — in cards
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. press — a publisher
  14. can — a tin
  15. tube — a container
  16. lie — to recline
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. can — a tin
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bear — the animal
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. can — to be able to

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