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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. face — part of the head
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. march — music
  8. spell — a short time
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. face — to confront
  11. spell — magic
  12. face — to point toward
  13. march — the month
  14. march — the month
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. clip — for paper
  17. rock — music
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. clip — a video
  22. spell — letters
  23. clip — to cut
  24. leaves — lets stay

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