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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. file — a line of people
  4. face — part of the head
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. lie — to recline
  8. face — to point toward
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. file — a tool
  13. rash — hasty
  14. face — to confront
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rash — a series
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. file — a document
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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