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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 did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  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. calf — a young animal
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rock — music
  9. track — a path
  10. dip — to sink
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. track — to keep track
  17. vault — a safe
  18. track — a song
  19. rock — a stone
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. dip — to dunk
  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