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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. cap — a hat
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. suit — in cards
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. suit — clothes
  10. rock — a stone
  11. suit — to fit
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. lie — to recline
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. date — the fruit
  16. rock — music
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. cap — a lid
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. cap — of ice
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. nail — on a finger

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