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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. bass — low music
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. ball — a great time
  8. bass — the fish
  9. object — an aim
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. object — to protest
  16. ball — a dance
  17. staff — employees
  18. staff — a stick
  19. staff — employees
  20. object — a thing
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. perch — the fish

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